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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Boston  Library  Consortium  Member  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/historyofbostonm1825snow 


%  A 

HISTORY  OF  BOSTON, 

THE 

JHetrojHilte  of  $&um8 aciutsetts, 

FROM  ITS 

ORIGIN    TO    THE    PRESENT    PERIOD; 

WITH  SOME 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE!  EEnrmONS. 

BY  CALEB  H.  SNOW,  M.  D.  >- 


Mods  Idteus  ubi  et  gentis  cunabula  nostrae.— Virgil. 


EMBELLISHED    AVITH    ENGRAVINGS. 


BOSTON  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  ABEL  BOWEN,  No.  2,  CONGRESS-SQUARE, 


CONGRE  SS-STREET. 


PRINTED  BY  MUNROE  AND  FRANCIS, 
128   WASHINGTON-STREET. 

1825. 


=G^ 


C<f 


o^°> 


tf^ 


«^:^ 


,  3 


DISTRICT    OF    MASSACHUSETTS,    TO  WIT  : 

District  Cleric's  Office. 

BE  U  remembered,  that  on  tbe  twenty  eighth  day  of  November,  A.  D.  182S,  in 'the  fifti- 
eth year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  ABEL  BOWEN,  of  tbe 
said  District,  has  deposited  in  this  Office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims 
as  Proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit  : 

A  HISTORY  of  BOSTON,  the  Metropolis  of  Massachusetts  ;  from  its  origin  to  the  pres- 
ent period.  With  some  account  of  the  Environs.  By  CALEB  H.  SNOW,  M.  B.  Mons 
Idffius  ubi  et  gentis  cunabula  nostra. — Virgil.    Embellished  with  Engravings. 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  "  An  act  for 
the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned:"  and  also 
to  an  act,  entitled,  "  An  act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled  an  act  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;  and  extending  the  benefits 
thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing-,  engraving  and  etching,  historical  and  other  prints." 
JOHN  W.  DAVIS,  Cleric  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts- 


PREFACE. 


The  reader  may  expect  to  find  in  this  book  some  account  of  the 
persecutions,  which  drove  the  first  settlers  of  New  England  from 
their  native  country,  and  some  brief  notices  of  the  settlements,  thai 
were  made  or  attempted  to  be  made,  in  various  parts  of  the  United 
States,  before  the  arrival  of  Governour  Winthrop  and  the  compa- 
ny under  him,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  Boston.  There  taking 
up  our  history,  I  have  endeavoured  to  select  from  the  mass  of 
records,  which  numerous  hands  have  left  to  us,  those  facts  which 
appear  to  have  excited  any  great  or  general  interest  among  the 
inhabitants  of  this  metropolis. 

To  those  who  are  aware  of  the  disadvantages  under  which  I 
have  composed  this  work,  I  need  offer  no  apology  for  the  imper- 
fections they  may  discover  in  the  execution  of  it.  To  others  it 
may  be  proper  to  mention,  that  Mr.  Bowen,  the  publisher,  was 
disappointed  in  his  expectation  of  the  assistance  of  other  gentle- 
men, and  that  my  engagements  with  him  commenced  at  least  four 
weeks  after  his  proposals  of  the  17th  April,  1824,  had  been  issued. 
To  enable  him  to  fulfil  the  terms  of  those  proposals,  I  was  oblig- 
ed to  let  the  first  number  appear,  on  the  first  of  July,  before  I  could 
possibly  know  what  the  succeeding  number  should  contain.  The 
case  has  been  similar  with  all  the  other  numbers.  I  have  con- 
sequently found  it  necessary  to  put  my  notes  to  the  press,  almost 
in  the  same  form  in  which  I  had  taken  them,  at  the  hazard  of  being 
compelled  afterwards  to  exclude  other  matter,  perhaps  more  im- 
portant. These  circumstances,  indeed,  do  not  derogate  from  the 
correctness  of  the  work,  or  from  its  usefulness  as  a  book  of  refer- 
ence, so  far  as  it  extends,  yet  they  may  account  for  some  peculiar- 
ities, which  might  otherwise  have  been  amended  ;  and  the  same 
circumstances  will,  I  trust,  sufficiently  apologize  for  any  dispropor- 


IV  PREFACE. 

tion  between  the  importance  of  some  of  the  subjects  and  the  atten- 
tion I  seem  to  have  bestowed  upon  them.  It  has  been  my  aim  to 
be  accurately  minute  and  scrupulously  correct  :  some  errours  arc 
marked  in  the  errata,  (into  which  also  has  crept  the  mistake  of  Bar- 
ton's for  Burton's  ;)  and  I  am  requested  to  rectify  another,  which 
occurs  on  page  356,  attributing  to  Mr.  Wallcut  an  agency  in  the 
formation  of  the  Historical  Society,  to  which  he  makes  no  claim. 

As  Mr.  Bowen  is  the  proprietor  of  Shaw's  Description  of  Bos- 
ton, I  have,  sometimes  without  the  formality  of  marks  of  quotation, 
made  such  use  of  that  book  as  suited  the  purposes  of  mine  ;  how- 
much  I  have  depended  on  it  may  be  ascertained,  if  any  have  the 
curiosity  to  compare  the  two.  It  is  right,  however,  to  state,  that 
this  volume  contains  three  times  the  quantity  of  matter  contained 
in  Mr.  Shaw's,  and  thirty-two  pages  more  than  were  originally 
promised,  besides  several  extra  plates. 

While  engaged  in  this  pursuit,  I  have  been  particularly  indebted 
to  the  libraries  of  the  Historical  Society  and  the  Athenaeum  :  the 
records  in  the  offices  of  the  secretary  of  the  commonwealth  and 
clerks  of  the  city  have  been  of  much  service  to  me  :  every  facility 
has  been  afforded  at  each  of  these  places  for  the  accomplishment 
of  my  object  ;  and  I  have  great  reason  to  acknowledge  my  obliga- 
tions to  the  gentlemen  who  have  those  invaluable  archives  and 
collections  in  charge,  and  no  less  to  many  private  gentlemen,  wi- 
the patience  and  politeness  with  which  they  have  attended  to  my 
frequent  calls  for  information  and  assistance. 

CALEB  H.  SNOW. 

Boston,  October  20, 1825. 


A  B 


NAMES 


STREETS,  LANES,  PUBLICK  EDIFICES,  &c. 

IN  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON,  JULY,  1824. 


N.  B.  To  find  any  street  on  the  plan,  search  for  the  number  annexed,  in  the  square  given 
by  the  letters  following  the  name ;  thus,  for  School-street  look  in  square  F  h,  and  you  find 
the  number  123.  Publick  edifices,  &.c.  not  numbered,  are  located  within  the  squares  referred 
to.  The  wards  are  designated  by  large  figures,  and  the  dotted  lines  show  the  boundaries  of 
each.    The  ancient  high-water  mark  is  shown  by  the  shading  on  the  new  plan. 


Allen  st.  N. 
Allen  st.  S. 
Ann  st. 
Arch  st. 
Ash  st. 
Atkinson  st. 
Bangs  alley 
Bath  st. 
Battery  alley 
Battery-march  sU 
Beach  st. 
Beacon  st. 
Bedford  st. 
Bedford  place 
Belknap  st. 
Bennet  st.  S. 
Bennet  st.  N. 
Berry  st. 
Blossom  st. 
Bowdoin  st. 
Bowdoin  place 
Bowdoin  square 
Boylston  st. 
Boylston  court 
Boylston  square 
Brattle  St. 
Brattle  sq. 
Bread  st. 
Bridge  st. 
Brighton  st. 
Broad  st. 
Bromfield  lane 
Bulfinch  st. 
Bulfinch  place    - 
Bumstead  place 
Butolph  st. 
Butlers  row 
Cambridge  st. 
Carnes  court 
Carver  st. 
Castle  st. 


C  d 

52 

Causeway  st. 

C  e 

53 

Central  st. 

Ie 

24 

Central  court 

Fj 

138 

Centre  st.  N. 

Dn 

162 

Centre  st. 

Hj 

110 

Chamber  st. 

11  h 

Charlestown  st. 

H  i 

93 

Chardon  St. 

Jc 

10 

Charles  St. 

Hh 

95 

Charter  st. 

El 

150 

Chauncy  place 

E  h 

124 

Chesuut  st. 

Ek 

142 

Clark  st. 

Fk 

Columbia  st. 

Cg 

73 

Common  st. 

Fn 

156 

Congress  st. 

Id 

9 

Cooks  court 

Hj 

111 

Copeland  lane    - 

Cf 

58 

Cornhill  court    - 

»g 

77 

Court  st. 

D  h 

Court  square 

Ef 

65 

Crab  alley 

Dl 

151 

Crescent  court    - 

Dl 

Cross  st. 

D  1 

Custom  house  st. 

Fg 

83 

Custom  house     - 

fig 

198 

Deacon  st. 

Ih 

99 

Derne  st. 

Bf 

57 

Devonshire  st. 

3c 

47 

Distill-house  square 

Ih 

102 

Doane  st. 

Fi 

122 

Dock  square 

Eg 

78 

East  st. 

Eg 

Eaton  st. 

Ei 

Elliot  st. 

Cg 

71 

Elm  st. 

Hg 

Essex  st. 

Cf 

66 

Exchange  st. 

Ff 

Federal  st. 

Cm 

160 

Federal  court  S. 

Do 

165 

Federal  court  N. 

Ec 

30 

Hh 

96 

Ej 

Hf 

28 

Bg 

69 

C  f 

60 

G  d 

34 

E  f 

64 

Ah 

129 

Hb 

3 

Fj 

139 

Bi 

131 

Id 

14 

Fk 

147 

E  i 

134 

G  U 

91 

Fh 

Ff 

Gh 

Fh 

92 

Fh 

H  h 

Ee 

H  e 

27 

I  h 

9S 

I  h 

98 

Fe 

180 

Dg 

131 

Gh 

89 

Fe 

41 

Hh 

Hg 

Gl 

182 

Ce 

56 

Dm 

152 

Gf 

81 

El 

146 

Gg 

86 

Gj 

120 

Gj 

Gf 

HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


Flag  alley 

Fleet  st.  ' 

Foster  St. 

Franklin  st. 

Franklin  place 

Franklin  avenue 

Friends  St. 

Front  st. 

Fruit  st. 

Gallop  alley 

Garden  st. 

Garden  court  st.    - 

George  st. 

Gibbs  lane 

Governour  alley    - 

Gooch  st. 

Gravel  st. 

Green  st. 

Gridley  lane 

Grove  st. 

Haerlem  place 

Hamilton  st. 
Hamilton  place 
Hamilton  avenue   - 
Hancock  st. 
Hanover  st. 
Hartford  place 
Harvard  st. 
Harvard  place 
Hatters  square 
Hawkins  st. 
Hawley  st. 
Hawley  place 
Haymarket  place 
Hay  ward  place 
Henchman  lane     - 
High  st. 
Hollis  st. 

Hospital  square    - 
Howard  st. 
Hull  st. 
India  st. 
Jarvis  row 
Jefferson  place     - 
Kingston  st. 
Kilby  st. 
Kneeland  St. 
Langdon  place     - 
Leverett  st. 
Leverett  court     - 
Leverett  place     - 
Liberty  square    - 
Lincoln  St. 


Gg  87 

Id  15 

Hb  18 

Fi  137 

Gj  121 

F  g  183 

Ge  36 

E  o  164 

Be  54 
He 

Og  70 

Id  22 

Bh  130 

Ij  184 

Fi  185 

E  e  44 

C  d  50 

De  63 

Hj  109 

Bg  68 
Ek 

Ii  103 

Ei  203 
Ii 

D  g  74 

He  29 

Ij 

Em  155 
F  i 
Hf 

Ff  42 

Fi  136 
Fi 
Dk 
Ek 

Ic  19 

Hk  114 

Dm  157 
Be 

Eg  79 

He  4 

Ih  100 
Ek 
E  m 

Fk  140 

Hh  94 

E  m  153 
le 

C  c  46 
Dd 

De      179 

H  h  201 

G  1  117 


Lindall  st. 
Lowell  place 
Lynde  st. 
Lynn  st. 
Margaret  st. 
Margin  st.  N.     - 
Margin  st.  S. 
Market  st. 
Market  row 
Market  place 
Marlboro'  place 
Marlboro'  row 
Medford  st. 
Marsh  lane 
Marshall  St. 
Mason  st. 
May  st. 

Merchants  row   - 
Merrimac  st. 
Methodist  alley   - 
Milk  st. 
Milton  st. 
Millpond  st. 
Moon  st. 
Mount  Vemon    - 
Myrtle  st. 
Newbury  place   - 
North  square 
North  row 
Norfolk  place 
Olive  st. 
Oliver  st. 
Otis  place 
Park  st. 
Pearl  st. 
Peck  lane 
Pinckney  st. 
Pine  st. 
Pitts  st. 
Pitts  court 
Pleasant  st. 
Poplar  st. 
Portland  st. 
Portland  place    - 
Prince  St. 
Prospect  st. 
Purchase  st. 
Quincy  place 
Roe-buck  passage 
Richmond  st. 
Ridgeway  lane    - 
Robinson  alley    - 
Bobbins  court 


Hh 

186 

Dl 

D  f 

61 

lb 

2 

He 

187 

Gd 

36 

E  e 

45 

Fg 

84 

Gg 

El 

Fi 

Fi 

Ed 

188 

Gf 

G  f 

37 

D  k 

142 

Bg 

125 

Hg 

88 

Ee 

32 

J  d 

12 

G 

119 

„C  c 

189 

Gd 

35 

Id 

23 

c  S 

B  h 

126 

Ek 

le 

200 

He 

Ek 

Bh 

128 

Hi 

105 

Fk 

Di 

13S 

Hi 

106 

FI 

148 

Bg 

127 

Da 

163 

E  e 

4S 

Ee 

B  m 

160 

Cd 

51 

Fe 

4e 

Ff 

He 

6 

Dd 

190 

Ij 

107 

Ij 

II  g 

He 

25 

Og 

7.5 

Ic 

'-. 

He 

HISTORY    OF    EOSTON. 


Russel  st.  S.        -       - 

-        Cg 

72 

Sumner  st. 

S 

Ch     128 

193 

Russel  st.  N.        -        - 

C  f 

59 

Sun-Court  st. 

- 

Ie 

25 

Salera  st. 

Hd 

17 

Sweetser  court 

- 

Ek 

Salt  lane 

G  f 

Temple  st. 

- 

Dg 

76 

Salutation  alley  - 

-        I  c 

11 

Thacher  st. 

- 

Gd 

195 

School  st. 

Fh 

123 

Theatre  alley 

G  i 

196 

School  alley 

Hd 

Tileston  st. 

- 

-        Id 

8 

Sctotts  court 

-        Gg 

Tremont  place 

- 

Fh 

Sea  st. 

HI 

115 

Union  st. 

- 

Gf 

38 

Second  st. 

C  c 

48 

Unity  st. 

. 

He 

21 

Sheafe  st. 

He 

5 

Vine  st. 

- 

Be 

55 

Sheaf  lane 

Dk 

143 

Walnut  st. 

- 

C  h 

132 

Short  st. 

Fk 

145 

Warren  St. 

. 

C  m 

159 

Sister  st. 

-        Hj 

112 

Warren  place 

. 

C  n 

Snow  Hill  st. 

G  c 

16 

Washington  st. 

- 

D  m 

154 

Somerset  st. 

-        Eg 

124 

Washington  place 

-        Ij 

104 

Somerset  place  - 

-        Eg 

191 

Washington  avenue    - 

Ji 

Somerset  court  - 

E  h 

Water  st. 

- 

Gh 

118 

South  st. 

G  1 

116 

Well  st. 

- 

Ih 

97 

Southack  st. 

-        Bg 

67 

West  st. 

- 

-        Ej 

141 

Spring  st. 

C  d 

49 

Wharf  st. 

- 

Ih 

10! 

Spring  lane 

G  i 

White  bread  alley 

Id 

13 

Spruce  st. 

Bi 

194 

Williams  st. 

- 

-        Hj 

113 

Staniford  st. 

D  f 

62 

Williams  court 

- 

Gh 

State  st. 

II  h 

192 

Wilsons  lane 

- 

-        Gg 

85 

Stillman  st. 

Ge 

199 

Wiltshire  st. 

- 

Cd 

197 

Suffolk  place 

E  k 

Winter  street 

- 

Ei 

135 

Sudbury  st. 

F  f 

80 

Winthrop  place 

. 

Gk 

Summer  st. 

-       Fj 

139 

PRINCIPAL   WHARVES. 


1.  Wm.  Gray's  wharf  ~. 

2.  Winnesimet  ferry  way 

3.  Battery  wharf 

4.  Union  wharf 

5.  Hancock's  wharf 

6.  Lewis's  wharf 

7.  Eustis's  wharf 
Canal,  or  Mill  creek 

B.     Philadelphia  Packet  wharf 
Island  wharves 


lb 

9. 

Town  dock 

Jb 

10. 

Codman's  wharf 

Kc 

11. 

Long  wharf 

Jd 

12. 

Central  wharf 

K  e 

13. 

India  wharf 

ICe 

14. 

Liverpool  wharf 

Ig 

15. 

Russia  wharf 

171    G  e 

16. 

Wheeler's  point 

Hg 

17. 

Baxter's  wharf 

Jf 

Hg 
Ig 

Kg 
Kb 
Jh 
Ik 
I  k 
G  n 
F  n 


NOTED   BLOCKS. 


Barristers'  Hall 
Colounade  Row 
Congress  square 
Cornhill  square 
Hinckley's  Buildings 
Market  square 
Merchants'  Hall 
Parkraan's  Buildings 


Fh 

Phillips's  Buildings 

Djk 

Province  House  Row 

Gh 

Rogers'  Buildings 

G  h 

Scollay's      do. 

H  h 

South  Row 

Hg 

Suffolk  Buildings 

Gh 

Tudor's    do. 

Hg 

West  Row 

Hh 
Fi 
Gh 

Eg 
Gi 
Gh 
Fh 
Ef 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


PUBLICK  EDIFICES. 


State  house  -  -  D  h 

laboratory  -  CI 

Town  bouse,  or  old  State  house  G  h 

Old  Court  house  -  F  h 

County  Court  house  -  F  h 

Municipal  Court  house  D  d 

Jail  and  House  of  Correction  D  d 
House  of  Industry                  South  Boston 

Alms  House  -  C  c 

Faneuil  Hall  -  II  g 

Ward  Room,  No.  3  G  d 

Eliot  School,  N.  Bennet  st.  G  d 

Hancock  School,  Hanover  St.  G  e 

Mayhew  School,  Hawkins  st.  F  e 

Bowdoin  School,  Derne  st.  D  g 

High  school,  Pinckney  st.         -  Bg 

latin  School,  School  st.  -  F  h 

Adams  School,  Mason  st.        -  E  j 

Franklin  School,  Nassau  st.  D  m 

Boylston  School,  Fort  Hill  I  j 


South  Boston  School 

Boylston  Hall                      -  D 1 

Medical  College                  -  D  k 

Massachusetts  General  Hospital  B  e 

Province  House                      -  F  i 

Asylum  for  Indigent  Boys  H  e 

Female  Orphan  Asylum        -  F 1 

City  Market  and  Gallery  of  fine  arts    G  g 

Parkman's  Market               -  B  f 

Columbian  Museum               -  Fl 

New  England  Museum  -            F  g 

Atheneum                        -  H  j 

Theatre                -                   -  Jj 

Concert  Hall               -  Fg 

Exchange  Coffee  House  G  h 

Green  Dragon                     -  G  f 

Washington  Gardens  -             E  j 

Pantheon  Hall                -  D 1 

Marlboro'  Hotel                  -  F  i 

Custom  House                  -  I  h 


CHURCHES. 


CONGREGATIONAL. 


First,  Chauncy  place 

Fj 

Eighth,  Hollis  st.               -                  Dm 

Second,  Hanover  st. 

He 

Ninth,  Lynde  st.                                     D  f 

Third,  Old  South 

F  i 

Tenth,  Park  st.                   -                     E  i 

Fourth,  Brattle  st. 

82    Gg 

Eleventh,  Essex  st.               -                E  k 

Fifth,  Clark  st. 

Id 

Twelfth,  N.  Allen  st.               -              C  e 

Sixth,  Summer  st. 

Gk 

Thirteenth               -               South  Boston 

Seventh,  Federal  st. 

Gj 

BAPTIST. 

First,  Stillman  st.               " 

Hd 

Third,  Charles  st.               -                   Ah 

Second,  Salem  st. 

Hd 

African,  Belknap  st.               -               C  g 

EPISCOPALIAN. 

King's  Chapel,  Common  st. 

Fh 

St.  Paul's,  Common  st.           -              D  i 

Christ's  ch.    Salem  st. 

He 

St.  Matthew's,  South  Boston 

Trinity  ch.  Summer  st. 

Fj 

QUAKER. 

Congress  st. 

Gh 

UNIVERSALIST. 

First,  North  Bennet  st. 

Id 

Third,  Bulfinch  st.                  -               Eg 

Second,  School  st. 

Fi 

First,  Methodist  alley 


METHODIST, 
J  c  Second,  Bromfield  lane 


ROMAN    CATHOLICK. 
Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  Franklin  st.  F  j  St.  Augustine's  Chapel,  South  Boston. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  City  of  Boston  owes  its  origin  to  a  spirit  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty,  which  was  excited  to  action  by  the  persecu- 
tions that  prevailed  in  England,  during  the  reigns  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  Kings  James  and  Charles  the  First.  Most  of 
those  who  can  properly  be  considered  as  first  settlers  arrived 
here,  and  in  other  parts  of  New-England,  prior  to  the  year 
sixteen  hundred  and  forty-three.  By  that  time,  it  is  compu- 
ted, the  number  of  emigrants  amounted  to  twenty-one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  souls,  or  thereabouts.* 

Had  this  multitude  been  composed  of  barbarian  hordes, 
who,  in  their  wanderings  for  sustenance,  might  have  chanced 
to  light  upon  this  fair  theatre  in  its  wild  and  savage  state,  we 
should  have  had  no  interest  in  tracing  their  history.  The 
wilderness  they  found,  would  have  remained  a  wilderness 
still,  and  their  descendants  have  been  dancing  yet  to  the  or- 
gies of  Woonand  and  Mannit,  or  listening  to  the  powaws  of 
Hobbamoc  and  Kiehtan.  Not  so  with  us  :  the  hand  of  re- 
finement has  beautified  the  charms  of  nature  ;  monuments  of 
art  in  our  own  habitations  and  in  the  temples  of  our  God,  a 
thousand  endearments  and  ten  thousand  privileges  enjoyed, 
invite  us  on  every  side  to  inquire  into  the  character  of  the 
men  that  have  preceded  us,  and  to  review  the  steps  in  which 
our  fathers  and  ourselves  have  been  led  from  infancy  to  our 
present  state.  To  do  this  is  the  object  we  have  now  set  be- 
fore us  ;  and  we  are  animated  to  the  work  by  the  persuasion. 


*  Neal,  N.  E.  ch.  V.  states  the  number  at  4000,  and  thinks  the  above  computation  very  ex- 
travagant, on  the  ground  that  only  293  transports  were  employed.    A  little  calculation,  how- 
ever, would  have  shown  that  if  each  of  those  had  brought  72  persons,  the  number  would  be 
accounted  for  :    whereas  some  of  them  were  ships  of  good  burthen  that  carried  about  two 
O 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

that  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  story  of  our  early  times 
will  tend  to  generate  in  the  reader  '  a  love  of  country  of  the 
best  complexion,  and  of  the  highest  order  ;  a  love  of  country 
chastened  and  improved  by  elevated  sentiments  and  dignified 
examples;'  while  the  recapitulation  of  events  more  recent 
may  serve  to  gratify  the  pride,  which  springs  from  a  con- 
sciousness of  having  borne  a  part  in  transactions  worthy  to  be 
recorded. 


hundred  passengers  apiece.     Besides,  if  any  confidence  is  to   be  placed  in   the  following 
estimate,  which  Neal  cites  without  any  doubts,  the  matter  is  almost  certainly  decided. 

Johnson,  in  his  Wonder-Working-  Providence,  published  in  London,  1654,  has   thus  stated 
the  costs  of  the  expedition.     Chap.  13,  14. 

The  passage  of  the  persons    ----------------        95,000?. 

The   transportation    of  swine,  goats,  sheep,  neate  and  horse,  exclusive   of 

their  cost - 12,000 

Getting  food  for  all  the  persons  until  they  could  get  the  wood  to  tillage    -        45,000 
JSfayles,  glasse,  and  other  iron   worke  for  their  meeting-houses,  and  other 
dwelling  houses,  before  they  could  raise  any  other  meanes  in  the  country 
to  purchase  them  ------------------     -        18,000 

Armes,  powder,  bullet,  and  match,  with  great  artillery  -------        22,000 

192,000/. 

"  The  whole  sum  amounts  unto  192,000/.  beside  that  which  the  adventurers  laid  out  in 
England — neither  let  any  man  think  the  sum  above  expressed  did  defray  the  whole  charge 
of  this  army." 

The  charge  for  a  passage  was  5  pounds  for  a  person  ; — nursing  children  not  to  be  reckon- 
ed ;  those  under  four  years  old,  three  for  one;  under  eight  years,  two  for  one  ;  under  twelve 
years,  three  for  two. — Prince,  Dec.  1.  1629. — Judge  Davis'  Disc. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  11 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  torturing  racks  and  burning  flame, 
Through  seas  of  their  own  blood,  they  came. 

far.  Led. 

The  fathers  of  Boston  entered  upon  the  stage  of  life  while 
Elizabeth  enjoyed  the  throne,  and  they  learnt  in  the  nursery, 
the  tale  of  former  persecution  and  of  deaths  for  conscience 
sake.  It  would  have  been  happy  for  them,  if  her  reign  had 
afforded  no  occasion  to  recollect  the  relation  she  bore  to  her 
tyrannical  father  and  more  cruel  sister.  She  indeed  discoun- 
tenanced popery,  but  established  a  church  herself,  to  whose 
rites  and  ceremonies  it  was  most  unpardonable  heresy  not  to 
conform.  '  My  masters  and  ye  ministers  of  London,'  was 
the  word,  '  the  Council's  pleasure  is,  that  ye  strictly  keep  the 
unity  of  apparel,  like  this  man  who  stands  here,  canonically 
habited,  with  a  square  cap,  a  scholar's  gown,  priest-like, 
with  a  tippet,  and  in  the  church  a  linen  surplice.  Ye  that 
will  subscribe,  write  Volo  ;  those  that  will  not  subscribe,  write 
Nolo  ;  be  brief ;  make  no  words.'  The  consequence  of  a 
refusal  was  immediate  suspension,  with  threats  of  deprivation 
in  case  of  not  conforming  within  three  months.  Many  were 
accordingly  suspended  and  deprived,  and  rules  were  enacted 
which  forbid  printers  and  booksellers  to  publish  any  appeal 
the  sufferers  might  desire  to  make. 

The  weight  of  this  harsh  treatment  fell  in  the  first  instance 
upon  ministers.  Great  numbers  of  the  laity,  however,  sym- 
pathized with  them  ;  they  abhorred  the  habits,  and  would  not 
frequent  the  churches  where  they  were  used.  Several  of  the 
deprived  ministers,  therefore,  and  their  friends,  associated 
and  resolved  to  break  off  from  the  public  churches,  and  to 
assemble  for  worship  in  private  houses,  or  elsewhere  as  they 
had  opportunity  ;  this  step  was  the  era  or  date  of  the  Separa- 
tion, 1566.  Such  a  procedure  could  not  fail  to  heighten  the 
displeasure  of  the  Queen  and  her  bishops.  The  commission- 
ers were  enjoined  to  be  still  more  severe  ;  and  thereupon 
twenty-four  men  and  seven  women  were  seized  and  cast  into 
prison,  for  attending  a  sermon  and  communion  service  in  a 
private  hall,  and  having  the  boldness  to  defend  their  conduct 
before  the  bishop  of  London  and  other  magistrates.  But 
neither  their  arguments  nor  their  sufferings  had  any  influence 
to  effect  the  deliverance  of  the  puritans.      As  we  approach 


12  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

nearer  to  the  period  of  our  particular  history,  we  find  them 
exposed  to  impositions  less  and  less  tolerable  ;  and  as  a  nat- 
ural result  of  persecution,  more  and  more  convinced,  both  of 
the  correctness  of  their  own  principles,  and  of  the  errors  of 
their  persecutors.  Most  of  their  objections  had  hitherto  been 
made  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  church  :  to  these  they  came 
by  degrees  to  add  doubts  concerning  her  doctrines.  This 
widened  the  extent  of  their  criminality,  and  the  more  certain- 
ly to  convict  them,  they  were  compelled  to  answer  upon  oath 
against  themselves. 

In  the  midst  of  so  much  wrong,  it  is  gratifying  to  discover 
that  there  was  a  spirit  in  the  parliament  which  convened  in 
1571,  to  attempt  something  in  favour  of  the  puritans.  An  act 
was  passed  with  that  view,  but  no  material  benefit  ever  accru- 
ed from  it.  The  commissioners  went  on  rigorously  executing 
the  old  laws  against  all  opponents  of  the  established  church. 
Among  others,  two  anabaptists  suffered  under  the  act  for  burn- 
ing of  hereticks,  in  Smithfield,  July  1575.  The  narrowness 
of  the  terms  of  conformity  reduced  the  number  of  able 
preachers  :  most  of  the  incumbents  were  disguised  papists,  or 
such  conformists  as  were  incapable  of  performing  the  ministe- 
rial duties.  A  fourth  part  at  least  of  all  the  preachers  in 
England  were  under  suspension,  and  so  many  parishes  were 
vacated  that  persons  who  wished  to  hear  a  sermon  must  go 
five,  seven,  twelve,  and  even  twenty  miles,  and  that  too  under 
the  penalty  of  a  fine  for  being  absent  from  their  parish  church, 
where  no  service  was  performed.  More  effectually  to  distress 
both  people  and  ministers,  the  former  were  forbidden  to  em- 
ploy any  of  the  latter  as  instructers  of  their  children. 

The  people  of  London  and  Cornwall  petitioned  parliament 
for  relief :  the  whole  country  exclaimed  against  the  bishops 
for  their  high  proceedings,  but  all  to  little  purpose.  Some 
slight  appearances  of  milder  measures  were  now  and  then  to 
be  seen,  but  the  next  day  would  dissipate  all  hope,  and  the 
dissenters  would  be  called  to  witness  the  public  execution  of 
their  friends  on  the  gallows.  The  Queen  continued  resolutely 
bent  on  perfect  obedience  to  her  requirements,  and  in  1583 
established  a  court  of  high  commission,  with  powers  to  inquire 
into  misdemeanors  by  every  way  and  means  they  could  de- 
vise, and  to  punish  by  fine  or  imprisonment  according  to  their 
discretion.  The  proceedings  of  this  tribunal  were  as  merci- 
less as  its  powers  were  boundless  :  and  when  the  Commons 
inclined  to  remedy  some  of  the  evils  that  arose  from  this  and 
other  measures  of  the  Queen,  they  found  out  the  iniquity  of 
the  act  of  supremacy,  which  vested  the  whole  power  of  re- 
forming the  policy  of  the  church  in  the  single  person  of  her 
Majesty,  who  would  permit  no  infringement  on  her  preroga- 
tive from  any  quarter  whatsoever. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  13 

Under  these  circumstances  the  puritans  could  expect  no 
amelioration  of  their  condition  during  her  reign  :  they  there- 
fore looked  forward  with  anxious  hopes,  to  the  probable  ac- 
cession of  King  James,  who,  having  been  bred  a  puritan, 
they  anticipated  would  redress  their  wrongs.  Elizabeth  died 
on  the  24th  of  March,  1603,  and  James  came  to  the  throne 
only  to  disappoint  these  hopes.  He  had  hardly  been  king  a 
year  before  a  proclamation  was  issued,  in  which  he  ordered 
the  puritan  ministers  either  to  conform  by  a  given  day,  or 
dispose  of  themselves  and  families  some  other  way.  He  was 
determined  to  be  rid  of  them,  and  to  sanction  his  own  will, 
procured  the  opinion  of  several  judges,  that  it  was  lawful  to 
deprive  such  ministers  as  would  not  conform,  that  it  was  not 
necessary  to  furnish  one  accused,  with  a  copy  of  his  charge, 
and  that  it  was  treasonable  to  frame  petitions  and  collect  nu- 
merous signatures  to  the  same,  as  the  puritans  had  done.  Af- 
ter these  determinations,  the  Archbishop,  Bancroft,  resumed 
fresh  courage  and  pursued  the  nonconformists  without  the 
least  compassion.  The  most  trifling  causes  furnished  ground 
for  the  prosecution  of  the  laity,  and  three  hundred  of  the 
clergy  were  either  silenced,  or  deprived,  or  excommunicated, 
or  cast  into  prison,  or  forced  to  leave  their  country,  by  the 
end  of  the  year  1604. 

A  considerable  number  of  religious  people  had  left  Eng- 
land, in  the  time  of  Mary's  persecutions,  and  some  of  them 
returned  on  Elizabeth's  accession.  We  have  detailed  suffi- 
ciently the  reception  they  met,  and  we  behold  them  now 
reduced  to  the  alternatives  of  stifling  their  consciences  or 
quitting  their  homes.  Among  those  who  preferred  the  latter, 
we  perceive  a  company,  to  whose  unwavering  attachment  to 
pure  and  undefiled  religion  we  are  indebted  for  the  settlement 
of  our  country.  In  the  spring  of  1603,  the  persecution  grow- 
ing still  hotter,  the  Rev.  John  Robinson  with  a  church  under 
his  care  removed  into  Holland  and  settled  at  Leyden.*  They 
had  not  long  been  there,  before  they  found  themselves  en- 
countered with  many  inconveniences  :  they  felt  that  they 
were  neither  for  health,  nor  purse,  nor  language,  well  accom- 
modated, but  the  concern  which  they  most  of  all  had,  was  for 
their  posterity.  They  could  not,  with  ten  years'  endeavours, 
bring  their  neighbours  to  any  suitable  observance  of  the 
Lord's  day,  without  which  they  knew  that  all  practical  relig- 
ion must  wither  miserably :  their  children  left  them,  some  be- 
coming soldiers, and  others  sailors;  in  a  few  years  more  their 


*  Their  first  attempt  to  escape  was  made  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  where  they  were  seiz- 
ed and  searched,  rifled  of  their  money,  books,  &c.  and  then  committed  to  prison.  After  a 
month's  confinement  the  greatest  part  were  dismissed,  but  seven  of  the  principal  men  were 
detained  and  bound  over  to  the  assizes. — Hutch,  ii.  app.  No.  1. 


14  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

descendants  would  be  Dutch,  and  their  church  extinct.  These 
and  other  reasons  they  considered  deeply,  and  after  much  de- 
liberation took  up  the  resolution,  under  the  conduct  of  Heav- 
en, to  remove  into  America.* 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  world  was  all  before  them,  where  to  choose 
Their  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  their  guide. 

Milton. 

At  the  time  when  that  resolution  was  taken,  very  little  was 
known  of  the  state  of  this  part  of  America.  Columbus,  who 
was  a  Genoese,  had  discovered  the  West  Indies  in  1492,  un- 
der Spanish  patronage.  In  the  spring  of  1497.  John  Cabot, 
a  Venetian,  obtained  a  commission  from  Henry  VII.  under 
which  he  made  a  voyage  from  England,  and  discovered  the 
continent  of  North  America,  in  the  latitude  of  forty-five  de- 
grees. He  proceeded  first  northerly  to  the  sixty-seventh  de- 
gree, and  then  returning  coasted  to  the  south  as  far  as  Florida. 
The  southern  continent  was  found  by  Columbus  in  1498. 
The  first  voyage  from  France  to  America  was  made  in  1 524,  by 
Verrazano,  a  Florentine.  By  these  voyages  and  discover- 
ies, the  princes  of  the  several  states,  which  authorized  them, 
fancied  themselves  to  have  acquired  the  rights  of  territory 
and  jurisdiction.  The  Spanish  and  French  made  various 
settlements  in  the  course  of  a  century.  On  the  part  of  the 
English  little  or  nothing  seems  to  have  been  done,  until  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  attempted  the  colonization  of  Virginia,  be- 
tween 1584  and  1607,  when  Jamestown  was  established.  An 
effort  was  made  to  plant  a  colony  near  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Kennebeck,  under  the  auspices  of  some  very  able  persons, 
about  the  year  1607,  but  the  severity  of  the  winter  and  the 
loss  of  their  storehouse  by  fire  disheartened  them,  and  the 
men  took  advantage  of  the  first  shipping  to  return  to  England, 
the  next  year.  A  settlement  was  commenced  at  Newfound- 
land in  1610,  and  in  1614  some  Dutch  adventurers  built  a 
fort  at  Albany,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  city,  and  of 
New-York 

Massachusetts  Bay,  the  bottom  of  which  forms  the  harbour 
of  Boston,  had  not  been  much  explored  previous  to  that  time. 
Twelve  years  before,  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  the  first  English- 
man who  came  in  a  direct  course  to  this  part  of  America, 

*  Mag-nalia. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  16 

sailed  from  Falmouth  in  March,  and  made  some  part  of  the 
eastern  coast  on  the  14th  of  May.  Before  this,  the  usual 
route  had  been  by  the  Canaries  and  the  West  Indies.  He 
did  not  enter  the  bay,  but  steered  directly  from  Cape  Ann  to 
the  opposite  headland,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cape 
Cod,  from  the  multitude  of  that  sort  of  fish,  which  abounded 
there. 

In  the  year  1614,  the  celebrated  traveller  and  navigator, 
Capt.  John  Smith,  sailed  from  England  with  two  ships  under 
his  command.  He  explored  the  coast  from  Manhegan,  an 
island  near  Penobscot  river,  to  Cape  Cod.  This  trip  he  made 
in  a  boat  with  eight  men,  for  the  purpose  of  bartering  with 
the  natives,  and  making  such  discoveries  as  might  be  of  fu- 
ture advantage  to  his  employers,  and  his  country. 

Speaking  of  these  parts,  he  says,  I  have  seen  at  least  forty 
several  habitations  upon  the  sea  coast,  and  sounded  about 
five-and-twenty  excellent  good  harbours.  Of  all  the  four 
parts  of  the  world,  I  have  yet  seen  uninhabited,  could  1  have 
but  means  to  transplant  a  colony,  I  would  rather  live  here 
than  any  where  ;  and  if  it  did  not  maintain  itself,  were  we 
but  once  indifferently  well  fitted,  let  us  starve.  Here  are 
many  isles  planted  with  corn,  groves,  mulberries,  savage 
gardens  and  good  harbours.  The  sea  coasts,  as  you  pass 
them,  show  you  all  along  large  cornfields  and  great  troops  of 
well  proportioned  people. — Massachusetts,  in  particular,  he 
calls  the  paradise  of  these  parts,  notices  its  high  mountain, 
and  its  river  which  doth  pierce  many  days'  journey  into  the 
entrails  of  that  country.  But  (adds  he)  the  French  having 
remained  here  near  six  weeks  left  nothing  for  us  to  examine. 
On  his  return  to  England,  he  formed  a  map  from  his  rough 
draught  and  observations,  which  he  presented  to  Prince 
Charles ;  who  was  so  well  pleased  with  his  description  of 
this  new  discovered  region,  that  he  gave  it  the  name  of  New- 
England.  In  this  map,  Smith  gave  names  to  the  most  re- 
markable places  on  the  coast,  none  of  which  are  retained — 
among  others  he  gave  the  name  of  Boston  to  Agamenticus. 

This  voyage  was  completed  within  the  period  of  six  months, 
and  produced  a  clear  profit  of  fifteen  hundred  pounds  to  the 
principals.  Doubtless  the  spirit  of  commercial  enterprise  was 
more  powerfully  excited  by  this  substantial  result,  than  by 
the  high  coloured  and  wonderful  description  which  the  Cap- 
tain gave  of  the  country. 

When  Smith  embarked  for  London,  he  left  his  largest  ship 
under  the  command  of  Thomas  Hunt,  to  load  her  with  fish 
for  Spain.  Hunt,  when  he  was  ready  to  sail,  enticed  into  the 
ship  twenty-seven  Indians  from  Patuxet  and  Nauset  (since 
Plymouth  and  Eastham)  under  pretence  of  trading  with  them. 
Immediately  he  seized  upon  the  poor  innocent  creatures  and 


16  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

stowing  them  under  his  hatches,  carried  them  off  to  Malaga, 
where  he  sold  a  number  of  them  for  twenty  pounds  a  man. 
This  atrocious  act  enraged  the  Indians,  but  was  eventually  of 
some  service  to  the  settlers,  as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  men- 
tion. 

During  a  number  of  years  after  this,  the  coast  was  annually 
visited  by  vessels,  mostly  fitted  out  by  merchants,  for  taking 
fish,  and  trading  with  the  Indians  for  furs.  Of  these  voyages 
we  have  little  information.  No  attempt  was  made  to  estab- 
lish a  plantation  within  the  bay  till  1620,  when  a  permanent 
settlement  was  made  at  Plymouth. 

The  company  which  we  left  in  Leyden,  at  the  close  of  our 
last  chapter,  furnished  the  interesting  band  that  made  this 
settlement.  With  mutual  embraces  and  many  tears,  they 
took  leave  of  their  pastor  and  sailed  for  Southampton,  in  Eng- 
land, where  they  were  to  meet  another  vessel  prepared  for 
the  same  expedition.  On  Wednesday  the  6th  of  September, 
1620,  they  loosed  from  Plymouth,  and  after  many  difficulties, 
in  boisterous  storms,  upon  the  ninth  of  November,  by  break 
of  day,  they  espied  land,  which  proved  to  be  Cape  Cod.  It 
was  not  their  intention  to  have  come  so  far  to  the  northward. 
They  therefore  made  some  attempts  to  proceed  towards  the 
Hudson,  but  the  wind  proving  contrary,  were  compelled  to 
stop.  Being  thus  thrown  upon  a  coast  where  their  patent 
gave  them  no  right  or  power,  and  some  strangers,  who  had 
joined  them  from  London,  disputing  the  authority  of  the  Gov- 
ernour  and  assistants,  they  did,  as  the  light  of  nature  itself 
directed  them,  forthwith  form  themselves  into  a  body  politic, 
by  a  solemn  contract  to  which  they  subscribed  their  names. 

This  first  of  American  constitutions  was  in  the  following 
form  : — "  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  We  whose  names  are 
underwritten,  the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread  sovereign  lord 
king  James,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  G.  B.  France  and  Ire- 
land king,  defender  of  the  faith,  &c.  having  undertaken  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  advancement  of  the  christian  faith, 
and  honour  of  our  king  and  country,  a  voyage  to  plant  the 
first  colony  in  the  northern  parts  of  Virginia,  do  by  these 
presents  solemnly  and  mutually  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
one  of  another,  covenant  and  combine  ourselves  together  in  a 
civil  body  politick,  for  our  better  ordering  and  preservation, 
and  furtherance  of  the  end  aforesaid — and  by  virtue  hereof, 
to  enact,  constitute,  and  frame  such  just  and  equal  laws,  or- 
dinances, acts,  constitutions  and  offices,  from  time  to  time  as 
shall  be  thought  most  meet  and  convenient  for  the  general 
good  of  the  colony.  In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunder 
subscribed  our  names.  Cape  Cod,  eleventh  of  November, 
in  the  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  lord  K.  James  of 
England,  France  and  Ireland,  the  eighteenth  and  of  Scotland 
the  fifty-fourth,  A.D.  1620." 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON".  17 

Having  adopted  this  measure,  they  proceeded  to  the  choice 
of  Mr.  John  Carver  for  their  Governour,  and  on  the  same  day 
sent  ashore  fifteen  or  sixteen  men  well  armed,  to  look  for  a 
convenient  spot  for  their  intended  residence.  Their  first  and 
second  search  was  unsatisfactory  ;  and  it  was  not  till  the 
16th  of  December,  that  the  ship  arrived  and  anchored  in  the 
harbour  of  Patuxet,  where  the  pilgrims  at  length  took  up  their 
abode,  and  named  the  place  New-Plymouth.* 


CHAPTER  III. 

a  Welcome,  welcome,  Englishmen  !?? 

Samoset. 

The  winter,  which  lay  before  these  pilgrims,  though  not  se- 
verely cold,  proved  a  doleful  one,  on  account  of  the  sickness 
and  deaths  among  their  number  ;  but  the  spring  favourably 
advanced  more  early  than  usual.  They  had  seen  only  very 
few  of  the  natives,  and  met  with  no  one  near  enough  to  hold 
any  communication,  until,  on  the  16th  of  March  1621,  they 
were  suddenly  alarmed  by  the  appearance  of  an  Indian,  who 
presented  himself  fearlessly,  and  in  broken  English,  gave 
them  a  friendly  salutation.  His  name  was  Samoset  ;  a  saga- 
more, or  lord  of  Moratiggon  he.  '  He  had  a  bow  and  two  ar- 
rows :  he  was  a  tall  straight  man  :  the  hair  of  his  head  was 
black,  long  behind,  only  short  before,  none  on  his  face  at  all. 
He  asked  some  beer,  but  we  gave  him  strong  water,  and  bis- 
cuit, and  butter,  and  cheese,  and  pudding,  and  a  piece  of  mal- 
lard, (roast  duck,)  all  which  he  liked  very  well.'  Their  visitor 
gave  the  party  much  useful  information,  and  they  sent  him,  the 
next  day,  on  a  message  to  their  Indian  neighbours.  Through 
him  they  had  frequent  intercourse  with  small  parties  of  the  sav- 
ages, and  at  last  he  brought  and  introduced  to  them  Squanto, 
Squantum  or  Tisquantum,  the  only  surviving  native  of  the  place 
they  had  taken  possession  of.  Squanto  was  one  of  the  twen- 
ty, that  Hunt  had  carried  to  Spain,  and  had  found  his  way  in- 
to England,  where  he  received  kindness,  which  he  was  now 
disposed  to  requite.  Our  new  comers  found  him  very  faith- 
ful to  them,  on  most  occasions,  as  long  as  he  lived,  serving 
them  in  their  expeditions  as  a  guide,  mediator  and  interpreter. 

Before  the  expiration  of  a  year  from  the  time  of  their  land- 
ing, the  people  at  Plymouth  had,  by  kind  dealing  and  prudent 

+  Winslvta's  Journal  in  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.   2.  fx.  40. 


/ 


18  HISTOUY    OF    BOSTON". 

management,  induced  nine  of  the  Indian  sachems  to  sign  a 
treaty  with  them,  and  acknowledge  submission  to  king  James. 
This  gave  them  sufficient  confidence  in  the  peaceable  disposi- 
tion of  the  natives,  to  justify  their  undertaking  to  explore  the 
country,  farther  than  had  before  been  done.  One  of  the  first 
excursions  for  this  purpose  was  a  voyage  to  the  Massachusetts,* 
in  which  they  discovered  the  harbour  of  Boston.  The  fol- 
lowing relation  gives  us  the  fullest  account  of  that  voyage, 
and  being  written  by  one  of  the  party,  deserves  a  place  in 
his  own  words,  as  a  specimen  of  the  minuteness  with  which 
they  recorded  all  occurrences.! 

'  It  seemed  good  to  the  company  in  general,  that  though 
the  Massachusetts  had  often  threatened  us,  (as  we  were  in- 
formed) yet  we  should  go  amongst  them,  partly  to  see  the 
country,  partly  to  make  peace  with  them,  and  partly  to  pro- 
cure their  truck.  For  these  ends  the  governours  chose  ten 
men,  fit  for  the  purpose,  and  sent  Tisquantum,  and  two  other 
savages,  to  bring  us  to  speech  with  the  people,  and  interpret 
for  us. 

'  [On  the  18th  September  1621,  being  Tuesday]  we  set  out 
about  midnight,  the  tide  then  serving  for  us  ;  we,  supposing  it 
to  be  nearer  than  it  is,  thought  to  be  there  the  next  morning 
betimes  :  but  it  proved  well  near  twenty  leagues  from  New- 
Plymouth.  We  came  into  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  but  being 
late  we  anchored  and  lay  in  the  shallop,  not  having  seen 
any  of  the  people.  The  next  morning  we  put  in  for  the  shore. 
There  we  found  many  lobsters,  that  had  been  gathered  togeth- 
er by  the  savages,  which  we  made  ready  under  a  cliff.J 
The  captain  sent  two  sentinels  behind  the  cliff,  to  the  land- 
ward, to  secure  the  shallop,  and  taking  a  guide  with  him,  and 
four  of  our  company  went  to  seek  the  inhabitants,  where  they 
met  a  woman  coming  for  her  lobsters  ;  they  told  her  of  them 
and  contented  her  for  them.  She  told  them  where  the  people 
were  :  Tisquantum  went  to  them  :  the  rest  returned,  having 
direction  which  way  to  bring  the  shallop  to  them. 

'  The  sachem,  or  governour  of  this  place,  is  called  Obba- 
tinewat,  and  though  he  live  in  the  bottom  of  the  Massachuset 
Bay,  yet  he  is  under  Massasoyt.  He  used  us  very  kindly  ; 
he  told  us  he  durst  not  remain  in  any  settled  place,  for  fear  of 
the  Tarentines.  Also  the  squaw  sachem  or  Massachusets 
queen  was  an  enemy  to  him.  We  told  him  of  divers  sachems 
that  had  acknowledged  themselves  to  be  king  James  his  men, 
and  if  he  also  would  submit  himself,  we  would  be  his  safe- 
guard from  his  enemies  ;  which  he  did,  and  went  along  with  us 
to  bring  us  to  the  squaw  sachem. 

*  Originally  the  name  of  the  Indian  nation  inhabiting  Boston  and  its  vicinity, 
t  Mass.  Hist.  Coll  2.  is.  57.  J  Supposed  to  have  been  Copp's  hill. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  19 

'  Again  we  crossed  the  bay,  which  is  very  large  and  hath 
at  least  fifty  islands  in  it,  but  the  certain  number  is  not  known 
to  the  inhabitants.     Night  it  was  before  we  came  to  that  side 

of  the   bay  where  this  people  were, that  night  also  we 

rid  at  anchor  aboard  the  shallop.  On  the  morrow  we  went 
ashore  all  but  two  men,  and  marched  in  arms  up  the  country. 
Having  gone  three  miles,  we  came  to  a  place  where  corn  had 
been  newly  gathered,  a  house  pulled  down,  and  the  people 
gone.  A  mile  from  hence,  Nanepashemet  their  king  in  his 
life  time  had  lived.  His  house  was  not  like  others,  but  a  scaf- 
fold was  largely  built,  with  poles  and  planks  some  six  foot 
from  ground,  and  the  house  upon  that,  being  situated  on  the 
top  of  a  hill. 

'  Not  far  from  hence,  in  a  bottom,  we  came  to  a  fort  built 
by  their  deceased  king,  the  manner  thus  :  there  were  poles 
some  thirty  or  forty  foot  long,  stuck  in  the  ground  as  thick  as 
they  could  be  set  one  by  another,  and  with  these  they  enclo- 
sed a  ring  some  forty  or  fifty  foot  over.  A  trench  breast  high 
was  digged  on  each  side  :  one  way  there  was  to  go  into  it  with 
a  bridge.  In  the  midst  of  this  palisado  stood  the  frame  of  an 
house,  wherein  being  dead  he  lay  buried. 

'  About  a  mile  from  hence  we  came  to  such  another,  but 
seated  on  the  top  of  an  hill  ;  here  Nanepashemet  was  killed, 
none  dwelling  in  it  since  the  time  of  his  death.  At  this  place 
we  staid,  and  sent  two  savages  to  look  the  inhabitants,  and  to 
inform  them  of  our  ends  in  coming,  that  they  might  not  be 
fearful  of  us.  Within  a  mile  of  this  place  they  found  the  wo- 
men of  the  place  together,  with  their  corn  on  heaps,  whither 
we  supposed  them  to  be  fled  for  fear  of  us,  and  the  more,  be- 
cause in  divers  places  they  had  newly  pulled  down  their  hou- 
ses, and  for  haste  in  one  place  had  left  some  of  their  corn, 
covered  with  a  mat,  and  nobody  with  it. 

'  With  much  fear  they  entertained  us  at  first,  but  seeing  our 
gentle  carriage  towards  them,  they  took  heart  and  entertained 
us  in  the  best  manner  they  could,  boiling  cod  and  such  other 
things  as  they  had  for  us.  At  length  with  much  sending  for, 
<;ame  one  of  their  men,  shaking  and  trembling  for  fear.  But 
when  he  saw  that  we  intended  them  no  hurt,  but  came  to  track, 
he  promised  us  with  his  skins  also.  Of  him  we  inquired  for 
their  queen;  but  it  seemed  she  was  far  from  thence,  at  least 
we  could  not  see  her.  Here  Tisquantum  would  have  had  us 
rifled  the  savage  women,  and  taken  their  skins,  and  all  such 
things  as  might  be  serviceable  for  us  :  for,  (said  he)  they  are 
a  bad  people,  and  have  oft  threatened  you  :  but  our  answer 
was,  were  they  never  so  bad,  we  would  not  wrong  them,  or 
give  them  any  just  occasion  against  us  ;  for  their  words,  we 
little  weighed  them,  but  if  they  once  attempted  any  thing 
against  us,  then  we  would  deal  far  worse  than  he  desired. 
Having  well  spent  the  day,  we  returned  to  the  shallop,  almost 


20  HlSTORT    OF    BOSTON. 

all  the  women  accompanying  us  to  the  shore.  We  promised 
them  to  come  again  to  them,  and  they  us,  to  keep  their  skins. 

'  Within  this  bay,  the  savages  say  there  are  two  rivers  ; 
the  one  whereof  we  saw,  having  a  fair  entrance,  but  we  had 
no  time  to  discover  it.  Better  harbours  for  shipping  cannot 
be  than  here  are.  At  the  entrance  of  the  bay  are  many 
rocks ;  and  in  all  likelihood  good  fishing  ground.  Many,  yea, 
most  of  the  islands  have  been  inhabited,  some  being  cleared 
from  end  to  end,  but  the  people  are  all  dead  or  removed.  Our 
victual  growing  scarce,  the  wind  coming  fair,  and  having  a 
light  moon,  we  set  out  at  evening,  and  through  the  goodness 
of  God,  came  safely  home  before  noon  the  day  following,' 
with  a  considerable  quantity  of  beaver  and  a  good  report  of 
the  place,  wishing  we  had  been  seated  there. 

In  the  spring  of  1622,  another  voyage  was  made  from  Plym- 
outh to  the  Massachusetts,  but  from  the  accounts  we  have  of 
it,  we  gain  no  particular  description  of  the  places  visited.  The 
fisheries  in  these  parts  soon  increased  greatly,  thirty  to  sixty 
vessels  sometimes  coming  in  the  course  of  a  season. 

In  May,  1622,  Mr.  Thomas  Weston,  who  was  one  of  the 
adventurers  at  first  engaged  in  the  foundation  of  Plymouth 
colony,  but  afterwards  deserted  it,  sent  over  two  ships  with  50 
or  60  men,  at  his  own  charge,  to  settle  a  plantation  for  him. 
They  resorted  to  the  place  afterwards  called  Weymouth,  but 
the  dissolute  conduct  of  the  people  soon  reduced  them  to  pov- 
erty and  distress,  and  the  company  was  broken  up,  the  follow- 
ing year.  Another  attempt  by  Captain  Gorges  to  settle  a 
plantation  at  the  same  place  also  failed.  Early  in  1624,  Mr. 
David  Thompson,  Gent,  a  Scotchman  who  the  year  before 
had  begun  a  plantation  about  Pascataqua  (near  Portsmouth 
N.  H.)  on  account  of  a  mercantile  concern,  either  disliking 
his  place  or  his  employers,  removed  down  into  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  There  he  possessed  himself  of  a  fruitful  island 
(now  Thompson's  island,  belonging  to  Dorchester,)  and  a  very 
desirable  neck  of  land,  which  were  afterwards  confirmed  to 
him  by  the  General  Court.  Not  long  after  this,  several  of 
the  Plymouth  people,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Roger  Conant, 
removed  and  settled  themselves  atNantasket,  (Hull)  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Massachusetts  bay,  where  a  building  had  before 
been  set  up,  to  accommodate  those  that  traded  with  the  na- 
tives. 

The  only  remaining  party,  which  it  seems  necessary  to 
mention,  is  that  which  was  brought  in  1625,  by  Captain  Wol- 
aston,  and  left  at  a  place  not  far  from  Weston's,  in  what  is 
now  called  Braintree,  but  was  for  some  years  considered  a 
part  of  Boston.  He  located  them  in  the  northerly  mountain- 
ous part  of  the  place,  which  he  named  Mount  Wolaston. 
This  enterprise  was  a  speculation  of  his  and  three  or  four 
partners,  who  brought  with  them  a  number  of  servants,  with 


HISTOKY    OP   BOSTON".  21 

suitable  provisions,  and  other  requisites  to  raise  a  plantation  : 
and  they  might  have  effected  their  purpose  well  enough,  had 
it  not  been  for  one  Thomas  Morton,  a  master  of  misrule,  that 
some  time  had  been  a  pettifogger  of  Furnival's  Inn,  (a  law- 
school  in  Holborn,  London,)  and  possibly  might  have  brought 
some  small  adventure  of  his  own  or  other  men's,  with  the 
r^st.  The  Captain  and  his  chief  partner,  having  gone  with 
part  of  the  company,  to  Virginia,  Morton  in  their  absence 
made  the  remainder  merry  one  night,  and  persuaded  them  to 
turn  out  the  lieutenant,  who  had  been  left  in  command.  This 
counsel  was  easy  to  be  taken,  as  suiting  well  the  genius  of  the 
young  men,  and  so,  with  Morton  at  their  head,  they  spent 
their  time  in  eating,  drinking  and  dancing  right  merrily  about 
a  majr-pole  :  and  as  if  they  had  found  a  mine  or  spring  of 
plenty,  they  changed  the  name  of  the  place  to  Merry-Mount.* 
This  school  of  profaneness  was  broken  up,  soon  after  a  regu- 
lar government  became  established  in  Massachusetts. 

Having  thus  glanced  at  most,  if  not  all  of  the  prior  settle- 
ments and  attempts  to  settle  in  these  parts,  we  are  now  pre- 
pared to  speak  of  the  origin  and  proceedings  of  the  compa- 
ny of  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Religion  stands  on  tiptoe  in  our  land, 
Ready  to  pass  to  the  'Merican  ttrand. 

Herbert  in  GooJcin. 

The  death  of  King  James  took  place  on  the  twenty-seventh 
day  of  March,  1625,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  the  throne,  by 
his  son  Charles  the  First,  who  committed  the  government  of 
the  church  to  men  of  arbitrary  principles,  passionately  fond 
of  the  established  rites  and  ceremonies,  and  disposed  to  press 
the  observance  of  them  with  rigid  exactness.  Neither  learn- 
ing, nor  piety,  nor  diligence  and  success  in  his  profession,  nor 
any  other  qualification  could  save  a  man  from  ruin,  that  scru- 
pled conformity  to  the  injunctions  of  the  bishops.  The  king 
had  put  the  reins  into  their  hands,  and  they  drove  on  so  furi- 
ously, that  the  whole  nation  groaned  under  their  tyranny,  till, 
at  last,  the  very  name  of  bishop  grew  odious  to  the  people: 
and  when  they  could  get  rid  of  their  tyranny  no  other  way, 
they  were  forced  to  draw  their  swords  in  defence  of  their  lib- 
erties, whereby  the  kingdom  was  involved  in  a  civil  war.t 

*  Hubbard's  Hist,  of  N.  E.  p.  103.  t  Ncal. 


22 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTOPf. 


This  being  the  melancholy  state  of  affairs,  the  Rev.  John 
White,  minister  of  Dorchester,  England,  encouraged  by  the 
success  of  the  Plymouth  colony,  projected  a  new  settlement 
in  the  Massachusetts  bay.  He  had  prevailed  with  Roger 
Conant,  a  most  religious,  prudent,  worthy  gentleman,  to  make 
a  beginning  as  early  as  the  year  1625.  He  removed  from 
Nantasket,  first  to  Cape  Ann,  and  thence  in  the  course  of  the 
fall  of  1326,  to  Naumkeag,  Salem.  Mr.  Conant's  companions 
were  soon  disheartened,  and  mostly  quitted  the  place  ;  but  he 
was  urged  by  Mr.  White  to  remain,  with  assurances,  that  if 
he  and  three  honest  men  more  would  yet  stay  upon  the  spot, 
he  would  procure  a  patent  for  them,  and  send  them  over 
friends,  goods  and  provisions.  '  Well,'  says  the  Magnalia, 
4  it  was  not  long  before  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  in  England, 
had  by  a  deed  bearing  date  March  19th,  1627-8,  sold  unto 
some  six  knights  and  gentlemen  about  Dorchester,  that  part 
of  New-England,  which  lies  between  a  great  river  called 
Merrimack  and  a  certain  other  river  there  called  Charles. 
But  shortly  after  this,  Mr.  White  brought  the  said  honourable 
persons  into  an  acquaintance  with  several  other  persons  of 
quality,  about  London  ;  who  associated  with  them,  and  joint- 
ly petitioned  the  king  to  confirm  their  right  by  a  new  patent, 
which  he  did  on  the  4th  of  March,  in  the  fourth  year  of  his 
reign.'  This  patent,  or  charter,  constituted  the  associates  and 
all  others  who  should  be  admitted  free  of  the  association,  one 
corporate  body  politick,  by  the  name  of  the  Governour  and 
company  of  the  Massachusetts  bay  in  New-England,  whose 
jurisdiction  was  to  extend  in  breadth,  from  three  miles  north 
of  any  and  every  part  of  the  Merrimack,  to  three  miles 
south  of  any  and  every  part  of  the  Charles  river,  including 
all  lands  within  the  space  of  three  miles  to  the  southward  of 
the  southernmost  part  of  the  Massachusetts  bay,  and  to  reach 
in  length  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  South  sea.  Their 
general  business  was  to  be  disposed  and  ordered  by  a  court 
composed  of  a  Governour,  Deputy  Governour,  and  eighteen 
Assistants.* 


*  See  the  charter  at  length  in  Hutch.  Coll.  of  papers,  p.  I. 
The  following-  were  the  patentees,  who  are  named  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  uumber- 
ed.    Those  raarkedt  were  the  six  original  associates  : 

20.  Thomas  Adams 


9.  Samuel  Aldersey 
15,  Richard  Bellingham 

21.  John  Brown 

22.  Samuel  Brown 

11.  Matthew  Craddock 
18.  Theophilus  Eaton 
6.  John  Endicottf 
2f>.  George  Foxcroft 


19.  Thomas  Gone 
12.  George  Harwood 

5.  John  Humphrey  t 
23.  Thomas  Hutchins 

8.  Isaac  Johnson 

13.  Increase  Nowell 

14.  Richard  Perry 
25.  William  Pincheon 

1.  Sir  Henry  Rosewell  f 


3.  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall 

4.  Sir  Thomas  Southcotf 
17.  Samuel  Vassall 

24.  William  Vassall 
10.  John  Ven 

7.  Simon  Whetcomb  t 
16.  Nathaniel  Wright 
2.  Sir  John  Young  t 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  23 

Soon  after  the  first  purchase  abovementioned,  and  previous 
to  the  procuring  of  this  charter,  Mr.  John  Endicott,  who  was 
one  of  the  company,  was  sent  over  with  a  few  men  (in  June, 
1623)  and  uniting  his  own  men  with  those  formerly  in  the 
country,  they  made  up  in  all  not  much  above  fifty  or  sixty 
persons.  Another  supply  was  sent  over  in  the  spring  of  1629, 
which  consisted  of  three  hundred  and  eighty-six  men,  women, 
maids  and  children.  They  arrived  in  June.  The  Rev. 
Francis  Higginson  was  a  principal  member  of  this  last  com- 
pany. They  found  but  six  houses  built,  besides  that  of  Mr. 
Endicott,  at  which  Mr.  Higginson  was  kindly  entertained.* 

About  a  hundred  of  this  party,  under  the  conduct  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Graves,  soon  removed  to  Charlestown,  where  a  small 
settlement  was  already  made.  By  Mr.  Endicott's  permission, 
three  brothers,  of  the  name  of  Ralph,  Richard,  and  William 
Sprague,  had  started  from  Salem,  in  the  preceding  summer, 
with  three  or  four  more,  to  explore  the  country  westward  ; 
and  after  travelling  above  twelve  miles  through  the  woods, 
they  light  on  a  neck  of  land,  called  b}'  the  Indians,  Mishaw- 
um.  Their  old  sachem  being  dead,  his  eldest  son  John  Saga- 
more was  chief  in  power.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  gen- 
tle and  good  disposition,  and  freely  consented  to  their  settling 
there.  Probably  he  was  the  more  readily  induced  to  this,  by 
the  good  conduct,  and  the  advantages  he  derived  from  the 
skill  of  Thomas  Walford,  a  blacksmith,  who  had  previously 
taken  up  his  residence,  and  built  himself  a  house,  which  he 
had  thatched  and  palisadoed,  at  the  south  end  of  the  west 
hill,  not  far  from  the  river.  Both  the  town  and  river  receiv- 
ed their  name  in  honour  of  the  king. 

The  success,  which  now  attended  the  plantation,  encour- 
aged the  company  to  persevere  :  and  several  of  the  principal 
members  entered  into  an  agreement!  to  remove  with  them- 
selves and  families,  provided  the  whole  government,  together 
with  the  patent,  might  first  be  legally  transferred  and  estab- 
lished, to  remain  with  them  and  others  who  should  be  inhabi- 
tants therein.  The  proposal  of  this  measure  occasioned  con- 
siderable debate  ;  and  it  was  finally  adopted,  both  for  the  sake 
of  avoiding  the  inconveniences  attending  the  administration 
of  the  government,  at  such  a  distance,  and  also  for  the  sake 
of  inducing  gentlemen  of  wealth  and  quality  to  embark  in  the 
expedition,  with  their  property  and  families.  This  was  an 
act  of  great  political  importance.  Neither  the  advocates,  nor 
the  opposers  of  it,  could   have  truly  estimated  its  magnitude, 

*  In  1628,  the  Plymouth  people,  having  obtained  a  patent  for  Kennebeck,  where  they  had 
traded  for  two  years  in  conjunction  with  David  Thompson,  erected  a  honsc  up  the  river  in  a 
convenient  place  for  business. — Prince* 

)  Hutch,  Coll.  p.  25. 


24  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

or  have  foreseen  the  great  events,  which  it  ultimately  produ- 
ced. 

This  alteration  in  the  management  of  the  company  affairs, 
was  made  in  August  1629,  and  on  the  20th  of  October  follow- 
ing, a"  special  court  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  new 
Governour,  deputy  and  assistants,  who  should  be  willing  to  re- 
move. Mr.  John  Winthrop  was  chosen  for  the  Governour, 
and  Mr.  Humphrey  for  the  deputy,  to  hold  their  places  for  a 
year  ;  but  Mr.  Humphrey,  not  being  likely  to  be  ready  to 
sail,  when  the  rest  expected  to  be,  Mr.  Thomas  Dudley  was 
afterwards  chosen  in  his  stead. 

Preparations  then  began  to  be  matfe  with  vigour,  for  the  em- 
barkation of  a  great  colony.  The  Company  appointed  ten 
persons,*  as  undertakers,who  after  much  intreaty,  accepted  the 
charge  of  the  management  of  the  stock,  and  were  ordered  to 
provide  a  sufficient  number  of  vessels,  for  the  transportation 
of  passengers  and  goods.  Accordingly,  by  the  end  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1630,  a  fleet  of  fourteen  sail  was  furnished  with  men, 
women,  children,  all  necessaries,  men  of  handicrafts,  and  oth- 
ers of  good  condition,  wealth  and  quality,  to  make  a  firm 
Plantation.! 

In  this  fleet  were  congregated  our  fathers,  with  their  wives 
and  their  little  ones,  about  to  quit  forever  their  native  country, 
kindred,  friends  and  acquaintance.  Let  us  pause  a  moment, 
and  mingle  our  sympathy  with  their  sorrows,  '  as  hand  in 
hand  we  see  them  lead  each  other  to  the  sandy  banks  of  the 
brinish  ocean.' 

'  They  were  about  to  leave  the  land  of  their  fathers'  sepul- 
chres, perhaps  forever  ;  to  break  asunder  those  cords  of  affec- 
tion, which  so  powerfully  bind  a  good  man  to  his  native  soil  ; 
and  to  dissolve  those  tender  associations  which  constitute  the 
bliss  of  civil  society.  In  ordinary  cases,  the  pain  of  separa- 
tion is  lessened  by  the  promises  of  hope — the  pleasure  of  an- 
other interview  ;  but  here  adieu,  to  most  of  them  at  least,  was 
to  be  the  last,  like  the  final  farewell  to  a  departing  spirit.' 


*  Of  whom  five  were  to  remain  in  England,  and  five  to  go  with  the  colony.  Messrs. 
Winthrop,  Dudley,  Johnson,  Saltonstall  and  John  Revel  were  the  five  that  came  over. — Eliot . 
Biog'.  Diet.  Johnson.  t  Prince. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  25 


CHAPTER  f. 

"  Westward  the  star  of  empire  rolls  its  way.J' 

The  fleet  above  mentioned  all   sailed  before  the  end  of 
May,  and  reached   America  in  safety.     The  first  vessel  that 
arrived  was  the   Mary-John,   which  brought   over  the   Rev, 
Messrs.  John  Warham  and  John  Maverick,  with  many  godly 
families  and  people,  under  their  care,  from  Devonshire,  Dor- 
setshire, and   Somersetshire,   together  with   Messrs.  Edward 
Rossiter  and  Roger  Ludlow,  two  of  the  assistants,  and  Roger 
Clap,  who  was  afterwards   captain  of  the   castle   in   Boston 
harbour.     They  had  some  difficulty  on  the  passage,  with  the 
master  of  the  vessel,  Capt.  Squibb,  who,  like  a  merciless  man, 
put  them  and  their  goods  ashore  on  Nantasket  point,  notwith- 
standing his  engagement  was  to  bring  them  up  Charles  river. 
They  succeeded,  however,  in  obtaining  a  boat  from  some  of 
the  old  planters  ;    and    having  laden   her   with  goods,  and 
manned  her  with  some  able  men  well  armed,  (not  more  than 
ten,  under   Captain  Southcot,  a  brave  low  country  soldier) 
they  went  up  towards  Charlestown.     There  they  found  some 
wigwams,   a   few   English  people,  and  one   English  house. 
They  continued  their  course  up  the  river  till  it  became  nar- 
row and  shallow,  which  is  at  Watertown,  where  they  landed 
their  goods   with  much  labour  on  a  steep  bank.     At  evening 
they  were  much  alarmed  with  information,  that  there  was  a 
body  of  three   hundred  savages  encamped  near  by  them. 
Fortunately  they  had  been  accompanied  from   Charlestown 
by  an  old  planter,  who  knew  enough  of  the  Indian  tongue 
and  Indian  disposition,  to  succeed  in  persuading  them  not  to 
molest  the  party  during  the  night.     In  the  morning,  some  of 
the  savages  made  their  appearance,  but  stood  awhile  at  a  dis- 
tance :     at  last  one  of  them  held  out  a  bass,  and  the  English 
sent  a  man  with  a  biscuit,  to  exchange  for  it  ;  and  thus  com- 
menced a  friendly  intercourse.     A  shelter  for  their  goods  was 
erected  at  the  place,  but  they  did  not  long  remain  there,  for 
their  companions  discovered  a  neck  of  land*  fit  to  keep  cattle 
upon,  adjoining  Mattapan,  (Dorchester,)  and   these  were  or- 
dered to  join  them. 

This  all  took  place  before  the  fourteenth  of  June,  on  which 
day  the  admiral  of  the   New  England  fleet  arrived  in  Salem 

*  This  neck  ofland  included  what  is  now  called  South  Boston. 


2fi  HISTOIIY    OF   BOSTON. 

harbour.  In  the  vessel  which  bore  that  distinction,  Gov. 
Winthrop  and  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson  came  passengers,  and  the 
Governour  has  left  us,  in  his  journal,  a  circumstantial  account 
of  the  voyage,  from  which  we  select  the  following  particulars. 

On  Monday,  March  29,  1630,  they  were  riding  at  the 
Cowes,  near  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  the  Arabella  (for  so  they 
called  the  Eagle,  in  honour  of  the  Lady  Arabella,  wife  of  Mr. 
Johnson)  a  ship  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  Capt.  Peter 
Milbourne,  manned  with  fifty-two  seamen,  and  carrying 
twenty-eight  guns.  The  Ambrose,  Jewel,  and  Talbot  were 
riding  by  their  side.  On  that  day  it  was  agreed,  that,  foras- 
much as  it  was  uncertain  when  the  rest  of  the  fleet  would  be 
ready,  these  four  ships  should  consort  together,  the  Arabella 
to  be  admiral,  Talbot  vice  admiral,  Ambrose  rear  admiral, 
and  the  Jewel  a  captain. 

By  head  winds  and  other  causes  they  were  detained  a 
week,  during  which  they  improved  one  day  as  a  fast.  On 
the  8th  of  April,  about  six  in  the  morning,  the  wind  being  E. 
and  by  N.  and  fair  weather,  we  weighed  anchor  and  set  sail. 
By  daylight  on  the  9th  we  were  come  to  Portland,  but  the 
other  ships  not  being  able  to  hold  np  with  us,  we  were  forced 
to  spare  our  mainsail,  and  went  on  with  a  merry  gale.  In  the 
morning  we  descried,  from  the  top,  eight  sail  astern  of  us, 
and  supposing  they  might  be  Dunkirkers,*  our  captain  caus- 
ed the  gun  room  and  gun  deck  to  be  cleared,  all  the  ham- 
mocks taken  down,  our  ordnance  loaded,  powder  chests  and 
fire  works  made  ready,  and  our  landsmen  were  quartered 
among  the  seamen,  twenty-five  appointed  musketeers,  and 
every  man  assigned  to  his  post.  The  wind  continued  N.  with 
fair  weather,  and  after  noon  it  calmed,  and  we  still  saw  those 
eight  ships  to  stand  towards  us.  Having  more  wind  than  we, 
they  came  up  again,  so  that  our  captain  and  the  masters  of 
our  consorts  were  more  occasioned  to  think  they  might  be 
Dunkirkers  !  for  we  were  told  at  Yarmouth  there  were  ten 
sail  of  them  waiting  for  us  !  Whereupon  we  all  prepared  to 
fight  with. them  ;  took  down  some  cabins  which  were  in  the 
way  of  our  guns,  threw  out  of  every  ship  such  bed  matters  as 
were  subject  to  fire,  hove  out  our  long  boat,  and  put  up  our 
waste  cloths,  and  drew  forth  our  men,  and  armed  them  with 
muskets  and  other  weapons,  and  instruments  for  fireworks  ; 
and  for  an  experiment,  our  captain  shot  a  ball  of  wildfire,  fas- 
tened to  an  arrow,  out  of  a  cross-bow,  which  burnt  in  the 
water   a  good  time.      The  Lady  Arabella,  and   the   other 


*  Dunkirk  was  then  a  part  of  the  Spanish  Netherlands,  and  war  existed  between   G*eat 
Britain  and  Spain. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  27 

women  and  children,  were  removed  into  the  lower  deck,  that 
they  might  be  out  of  danger. 

All  things  being  thus  fitted,  we  went  to  prayer.  It  was 
much  to  see  how  cheerful  and  comfortable  all  the  company 
appeared  ;  not  a  woman  or  child  that  showed  fear,  though 
all  did  apprehend  the  danger  to  be  great  ;  for  there  had  been 
eight  against  four,  and  the  least  of  the  enemy's  ships  was  re- 
puted to  carry  thirty  brass  pieces  :  but  our  trust  was  in  the 
Lord  of  hosts  :  and  the  courage  of  our  captain,  and  his  care 
and  diligence,  did  much  encourage  us. 

It  was  now  about  one  of  the  clock,  and  the  fleet  seemed  to 
be  within  a  league  of  us ';  therefore  the  captain,  because  he 
would  show  he  was  not  afraid  of  them,  and  that  he  might  see 
the  issue  before  night,  tacked  about  and  stood  to  meet  them, 
and  when  we  came  within  hail,  we  perceived  them  to  be  our 
friends  :  and  so,  God  be  praised,  our  fear  and  danger  was 
turned  into  mirth  and  friendly  entertainment. 

The  weather  during  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  was  va- 
riable, sometimes  mild,  and  sometimes  boisterous.  The  pas- 
sengers, as  may  well  be  supposed,  suffered  from  sea-sickness, 
and  that  contributed  to  the  amusement  of  the  hardy  sailors. 
s  Our  children  and  others  that  were  sick,  and  lay  groaning  in 
the  cabins,  we  fetched  out,  and  having  a  rope  stretched  from 
the  steerage  to  the  mainmast,  we  made  them  stand,  some  on 
one  side  and  some  on  the  other,  and  swing  it  up  and  down  till 
they  were  weary,  and  by  this  means  they  soon  grew  well  and 
merry.  The  captain  set  our  children  and  grown  men  to  some 
other  harmless  exercises,  which  the  seamen  were  very  active 
in,  and  which  did  our  people  much  good,  though  the  sailors 
would  sometimes  play  the  wag  with  them.' 

Very  strict  attention  to  religious  duties  was  observed,  and 
the  most  rigid  discipline  enforced.  On  one  occasion,  two  of 
the  landsmen  were  laid  in  the  bolts  all  night,  for  piercing  a 
rundlet  of  strong  water,  and  stealing  some  of  the  same  ;  and 
the  next  morning,  the  principal  was  openly  whipped,  and  both 
were  kept  on  bread  and  water  all  day.  Two  young  men 
falling  at  odds,  and  fighting,  contrary  to  orders  which  were 
set  up  in  the  ship,  were  sentenced  to  walk  upon  deck  till 
night,  with  their  hands  tied  behind  them  :  and  another  man, 
'  for  using  contemptuous  speech  in  our  presence^  was  laid  in 
bolts,  till  he  made  open  confession  of  his  offence,  A  servant 
of  one  of  the  company  had  made  a  bargain  with  a  child,  to 
sell  him  a  trinket  box  worth  three  pence,  for  three  biscuits  a 
day  all  the  voyage,  and  the  rogue  had  received  about  forty, 
and  sold  them  to  his  comrades,  before  he  was  found  out.  '  We 
caused  his  hands  to  be  tied  up  to  a  bar,  and  hung  a  basket 
full  of  stones  about  his  neck,  and  so  he  stood  for  two  hours.' 


2H  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Thus  they  commenced  their  state,  with  the  maintenance   of 
dignity,  sobriety,  good  order,  and  honesty. 

No  accident  of  any  moment  occurred  on  board  the  Arabel- 
la. They  saw  one  or  two  whales  (one  with  a  bunch  on  his 
back,  about  a  yard  above  water  !)  and  all  the  way  were 
birds  flying  and  swimming,  when  they  had  no  land  near,  by 
two  hundred  leagues. 

On  the  third  of  June,  they  approached  near  enough  to  the 
coast,  to  get  soundings  in  eighty  fathoms,  and  on  the  seventh, 
in  thirty  fathoms,  they  were  regaling  themselves  with  fresh 
fish  of  their  own  catching.  On  the  eighth,  they  had  sight  of 
land,  which  they  supposed  Manhegan,  but  it  proved  to  be 
Mount  Desert.  So  pleasant  a  scene  here  they  had,  as  did 
much  refresh  them,  and  there  came  a  smell  off  the  shore,  like 
the  smell  of  a  garden  :  and  Noah  could  hardly  have  been 
more  gratified  to  behold  his  dove,  with  the  olive  leaf  in  her 
mouth,  than  they  must  have  been  delighted,  to  receive  a  visit 
from  a  wild  pigeon,  and  another  small  bird  from  the  land. 

All  day  on  the  eleventh,  they  stood  to  and  again,  within 
sight  of  Cape  Ann.  On  Saturday  the  twelfth,  at  four  in  the 
morning,  they  gave  notice  of  their  approach,  from  two  pieces 
of  ordnance,  and  sent  their  skiff  ashore.  In  the  course  of  the 
day,  passing  through  the  narrow  strait  between  Baker's  isle 
and  another  little  island,  they  came  to  an  anchor,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  Salem  harbour. 

Mr.  Endicott  and  others  went  on  board  ;  and  we  that  were 
assistants,  and  some  other  gentlemen,  and  some  of  the  women 
and  our  captain,  returned  with  him  to  Salem,  where  we  sup- 
ped on  a  good  venison  pasty  and  good  beer.  Next  morning, 
many  of  the  rest  of  the  people  went  on  shore,  upon  the  other 
side  of  the  harbour,  and  feasted  themselves  with  strawberries, 
which  they  found  in  such  abundance  that  they  named  the 
place  Strawberry  bank. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  Monday  the  fourteenth, '  we  weigh- 
ed anchor,  and  the  wind  being  against  us,  and  the  channel  so 
narrow  that  we  could  not  well  turn,  we  warped  in  our  ship, 
and  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  inward  harbour.  In  the  after- 
noon, we  went  with  the  most  of  our  company  on  shore,  and 
our  captain  gave  us  a  salute  of  five  guns.' 

The  other  ships  of  the  fleet  fell  in  daily,  and  by  the  sixth  of 
July,  thirteen  out  of  the  fourteen  had  arrived  safe  in  New- 
England,  without  the  loss  of  more  than  fifteen  lives  by  sick- 
ness or  accident.  A  day  of  publick  thanksgiving  was  there- 
fore kept,  on  the  eighth  of  that  month,  through  all  the  plan- 
tations. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTOX.  "29 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Whate'er  in  life  may  be  my  varied  lot, 
Boston,  dear  Boston,  ne'er  shall  be  forgot. 

R.  T.  Paino 

It  appears  to  have  been  the  original  design,  that  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  this  colony  of  fifteen  hundred  persons  should 
have  settled  in  one  place,  which  they  intended  to  call  by  the 
name  of  Boston.  This  design  was  frustrated  by  such  circum- 
stances as  the  following.* 

They  found  the  colony  at  Salem  in  a  sad  and  unexpected 
condition.  Above  eighty  deaths  had  occurred  the  winter  be- 
fore, and  of  those  that  remained  alive,  many  were  weak 
and  sickly.  All  the  corn  and  bread,  amongst  them  all,  was 
hardly  sufficient  to  feed  them  a  fortnight  ;  so  that  when  the 
remainder  of  the  great  company  of  servants,  .sent  over  two 
years  before,  applied  for  sustenance,  they  found  themselves 
wholly  unable  to  afford  it,  '  by  reason  that  the  provisions 
shipped  for  them  were  taken  out  of  the  ship  they  were  put  in, 
and  they  who  were  trusted  to  ship  them  in  another,  failed  us 
and  left  them  behind.  Whereupon  necessity  forced  us,  to 
our  extreme  loss,  to  give  them  all  liberty,  who  had  cost  us 
about  sixteen  or  twenty  pound  a  person,  furnishing  and  send- 
ing over.' 

'  But  bearing  these  things  as  we  might,  we  began  to  consult 
about  a  place  for  our  sitting  down:  for  Salem,  where  we  land- 
ed, pleased  us  not.  So  some  were  sent  to  the  bay,  to  search 
up  the  rivers  for  a  convenient  place,  who  upon  their  return 
reported  to  have  found  a  good  place  upon  Mystick  :  but  some 
others  of  us  seconding  these,  to  approve  or  dislike  of  their 
judgement,  we  found  a  place  liked  us  better,  three  leagues  up 
Charles  river.  Thereupon  we  unshipped  our  goods  into 
other  vessels,  with  much  cost  and  labour,  and  brought  them  in 
July  to  Charlestown.  But  there  receiving  information  (by 
some  of  the  ships  lately  arrived)  of  some  French  preparations 
against  us,  we  were  forced  to  change  our  counsel  ;  for  many 
of  our  people  were  sick  of  fevers  and  the  scurvy,  and  we 
were  thereby  weakened  and  unable  to  carry  our  baggage  and 
ordnance  so  far  up  the  river  as  we  proposed.  For  our  pres- 
ent shelter,  therefore,  we  were  obliged  to  plant  dispersedly, 
(in  various  directions  from  Saugus  to  Dorchester.)     This  dis- 

*  prom  Dudley's  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln.    Mass.  H.  C.  !•  viii.  3S. 


30  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

persion  troubled  some  of  us,  but  help  it  we  could  not,  want- 
ing ability  to  remove  to  any  place  fit  to  build  a  town  upon, 
and  the  time  being  too  short  to  deliberate  any  longer,  lest  the 
winter  should  surprize  us  before  we  had  erected  our  houses. 
So  ceasing  to  consult  further,  for  that  time,  they  who  had 
health  to  labour  fell  to  building.' 

Governour  Winthrop  was  among  those  who  stopped  at 
Charlestown.  He  and  other  publick  officers  were  accommo- 
dated in  a  building,  called  the  great  house,  on  the  westerly 
side  of  the  present  market  square.  The  remainder  resided 
in  cottages,  booths,  and  tents,  where  their  lodgings  were  so 
cold  and  moist,  as  to  cause  a  continued  prevalence  of  disease 
among  them,  to  such  an  extent  as  that  there  were  not  enough  of 
the  well,  to  take  care  of  the  sick.  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller,  a  deacon 
of  the  church  of  Plymouth,  appears  to  have  spent  several 
weeks  in  the  neighbourhood  in  attendance  upon  them,  but 
without  doing  much  good  (as  he  complained)  for  the  want  of 
drugs  and  things  fitting  to  work  with.  Deaths  spread  around 
them,  and  almost  every  family  was  filled  with  lamentation  for 
the  loss  of  some  of  its  members. 

In  consequence  of  this  affliction,  the  Governour  proposed 
to  Mr.  Johnson,  that  a  day  should  be  set  apart  for  fasting  and 
prayer.  Accordingly,  Friday,  the  30th  of  July,  was  agreed 
upon,  and  devoted  for  that  purpose.  After  the  services  of 
the  day,*  it  had  been  proposed,  that  such  godly  persons 
among  them,  as  knew  each  other,  should  enter  into  a  church 
covenant.  Conformably  to  this  arrangement,  Governour  Win- 
throp, Deputy  Governour  Dudley,  Mr.  Johnson,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Wilson,  on  that  day  signed  the  following  covenant  : 

"  In  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  obedience 
to  his  holy  will  and  divine  ordinance, 

"  We,  whose  names  are  here  underwritten,  being  by  his 
most  wise  and  good  providence  brought  together  into  this  part 
of  America,  in  the  Bay  of  Massachusetts,  and  desirous  to 
unite  into  one  congregation  or  church,  under  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  our  head,  in  such  sort,  as  becometh  all  those,  whom  he 
hath  redeemed,  and  sanctified  to  himself,  do  hereby  solemnly 
and  religiously,  as  in  his  most  holy  presence,  promise  and 
bind  ourselves  to  walk  in  all  our  ways  according  to  the  rule 
of  the  gospel,  and  in  all  sincere  conformity  to  his  holy  ordi- 
nances, and  in  mutual  love  and  respect  to  each  other  so  near, 
as  God  shall  give  us  grace." 


*  The  first  meetings  of  the  congregation  were  held  in  the  open  air,  under  the  shade  of 
an  oak  tree,   and  probably   continued  to  be   so  for  some  time  ;   for  here,    says   Roger  Clap, 

1  have  heard  Mr.  Wilson  and  Mr.  Phillips   preach  many  a  good  sermon they  afterwards 

«iet  in  the  great  house. 


HISTOET    OF    BOSTON.  31 

On  the  Lord's  day  following,  five  more  were  added  to  the 
ohurch,  namely,  Increase  Nowell,  Thomas  Sharp,  Simon 
Bradstreet,  assistants,  William  Gager,  a  surgeon,  and  William 
Colburn. 

At  this  time  they  had  no  other  intention  than  that  of  making 
Charlestown  the  place  of  their  permanent  abode,  and  the 
Governour  had  ordered  timber  to  be  cut,  and  a  house  framed 
for  himself  there.  But  the  sickness  increasing,  and  the  weath- 
er being  hot,  the  people  grew  uneasy  and  discontented  for  the 
want  of  water.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  those  who  now 
know  that  Charlestown  abounds  with  good  water,  yet  they 
could  then  only  find  one  brackish  spring,  and  that  upon  the 
beach,  on  the  west  side  of  the  northwest  field,  (near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  state  prison)  which  was  not  to  be  come  at,  but 
when  the  tide  was  down.*  This  spring  could  not  supply  half 
the  necessities  of  the  multitude,  and  the  death  of  many  was 
thought  to  be  owing  to  the  want  of  wholesome  drink.  Sev- 
eral persons  were  therefore  induced  to  make  excursions,  for 
the  discovery  of  some  more  heathful  spot. 

Besides  the  English  who  were  located  at  Charlestown,  when 
the  Governour  and  his  colony  arrived,  there  lived  on  Noddle's 
island,  one  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  a  man  of  very  loving  and 
courteous  behaviour,  very  ready  to  entertain  strangers.  The 
Governour  lay  a  night  at  his  house,  while  on  the  first  explor- 
ing party.  He  had  thrown  up  a  small  fort  on  the  island,  by 
the  aid  of  Mr.  Thompson,  and  had  four  cannon  mounted  in  it 
to  protect  him  from  the  Indians.  Mr.  Maverick  was  a  man 
that  made  some  figure  in  the  history  of  after  times,  and  had  a 
grant  or  confirmation  of  the   island   from  the  general  court. f 

On  the  south  side  of  the  mouth  of  Charles  river  there  also 
resided,  in  a  small  cottage,  one  Mr.  William  Blackstone.  The 
spot  upon  which  he  had  pitched,  was  near  a  point  on  the 
western  side  of  a  peninsula,  which,  at  high  water,  appeared 
in  those  days  like  two  islands,  the  north  and  south  parts  being 
connected  only  by  a  narrow  isthmus.  The  Indian  name  of 
the  place  was  Shawmut,  and  the  English  at  Charlestown  call- 
ed it  Trimountain. 

Mr.  Blackstone's  self  interest  did  not  stifle  his  feelings  of 
humanity,  and  though  he  might  claim  the  peninsula  for  his 
property,  as  having  been  the  first  Englishman,  that  slept  upon 
it,  he  communicated  to  the  Governour  the  information  that  he 
had  found  an  excellent  spring  on  his  side  of  the  river,  and 
urged  him  with  pressing  invitations  to  remove  thither.  This 
incident,  and  the  fact  of  their  being  much  pleased  with  the 

*  Johnson's  W.  W.  P.  ch.  17.  and  Dr.  Bartlett's  hist,  sketch  of  Charlestown  in  M.  H. 
Coll.  2.  ii.  88.  165. 

t  August  20.  The  Gift,  being  the  fourteenth  and  last  vessel  of  the  N.  E.  fleet,  arrives 
with  the  loss  of  but  one  passenger,  though  she  bad  been  twelve  weeks  at  sea. 


32  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON, 

plain  neck  (which  then  bore  the  name  of  Blackstone's  neck,) 
at  the  south  end  of  the  peninsula,  induced  Mr.  Johnson,  who 
was  a  very  influential  and  leading  man,  to  remove  with  sev- 
eral others  and  begin  a  settlement.  This  took  place  in  Au- 
gust. 

On  Monday  the  23d  of  August,  the  first  Court  of  Assist- 
ants, under  the  authority  of  the  patent,  was  holden  on  board 
the  Arabella,  at  Charlestown.  The  first  question  propound- 
ed, was,  How  shall  the  ministers  be  maintained  ? — and  it  was 
ordered  that  houses  be  built  for  them  at  the  public  charge,  and 
their  salaries  were  established.  The  minister  at  Watertown, 
Rev.  George  Phillips,  was  to  have  thirty  pounds  a  year,  and 
Mr.  Wilson  twenty  pounds  a  year  till  his  wife  came  over,  be- 
ginning from  the  tenth  of  July  preceding.  All  this  was  at 
the  common  charge,  excepting  that  the  people  at  Dorchester 
and  Salem  were  not  to  be  taxed  for  this  object.  Governour 
Winthrop  undertook  to  see  the  above  orders  carried  into  ef- 
fect, at  his  plantation,  which  embraced  Charlestown  and 
Boston. 

On  Friday,  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  the  congregation 
kept  a  fast,  and  chose  Mr.  Wilson  for  their  teacher,  Mr.  In- 
crease Nowel  an  elder,  and  Dr.  Gager  and  Mr.  William  As- 
pinwall  for  deacons.  These  were  all  installed  by  the  impo- 
sition of  hands,  with  a  solemn  protest,  that  it  was  only 
by  way  of  election  and  confirmation,  and  not  designed  to  in- 
validate, or  disparage  Mr.  Wilson's  previous  ordination  in 
England. 

At  the  second  court  of  Assistants,  which  was  also  holden  at 
Charlestown,  an  order  was  passed,  that  no  person  plant  in  any 
place  within  the  limits  of  the  patent,  without  leave  from  the 
Governour  and  Assistants,  or  a  major  part  of  them.  At  this 
court  it  was  also  ordered,  that  the  town  at  Mattapan  be  call- 
ed Dorchester,  that  upon  Charles  River,  Watertown,  and  that 
Trimountain  be  called  BOSTON.  This  was  on  the  7th  day 
of  September,  1630,  and  from  that  day  we  date  the  founda- 
tion of  our  city. 

Whence  originated  the  two  latter  of  these  three  names, 
Shawmut,  Trimountain  and  Boston,  is  matter  of  historical  rec- 
ord. In  regard  to  the  signification  of  Shawmut  wTe  can  only 
state  conjecture.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  universal  custom, 
derived  from  the  first  fathers  of  mankind,  to  denominate  pla- 
ces, from  some  peculiar  excellences  discovered  in  them  :  and 
the  names  appropriated  were  generally  drawn  from  fancied 
resemblances,  in  these  peculiarities,  to  parts  of  the  human 
body.  Before  the  art  of  sinking  wells  was  known,  fountains  or 
springs  of  water  were  of  infinite  value  ;  and  the  practice  of  giv- 
ing names  to  places  from  them,  was  prevalent  among  the  ab- 
origines of  Massachusetts.  It  was  very  common  with  the  Jews 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  S3 

and  other  Eastern  nations,  to  call  such  springs  by  the  terms 
appropriated  in  their  languages  to  the  eye,  whose  piercing 
brilliancy  sparkles  in  the  visage,  as  the  gurgling  fountain  does 
upon  the  grassy  plain.  Those  that  believe,  with  many  who 
are  not  altogether  unwise,  that  the  native  American  tribes 
were  descendants  of  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel,  will  have  little 
difficulty  to  discover  in  Shauimut  the  radicals  of  the  two  eyes, 
that  shoot  forth  on  either  side  of  the  ridge  of  high  land  be- 
tween Charles  and  Congress  streets,  and  the  termination,  uty 
which  is  a  particle  of  place,  equivalent  to  at.  Such  will 
readily  coincide  in  the  ingenious  conclusion  lately  drawn,  that 
Shawmut  signified  living  fountains,  to  which  the  natives  were 
probably  in  the  daily  habit  of  crossing  over,  in  their  canoes, 
from  the  opposite  peninsula,  to  procure  fresh  water  when  the 
great  spring  there  was  overflowed  by  the  tide.* 

The  etymology  of  the  wordTrimountain  leads  us  directly  to 
the  origin  of  that  name.  Shawmut  presented  to  those  who  view- 
ed it  from  Charlestown,  the  appearance  only  of  three  large 
hills  ;  one  on  the  north,  one  far  to  the  east,  and  another  form- 
ing the  whole  western  extremity  of  the  place.  On  the  last 
were  three  lofty  and  majestic  eminences,  and  on  the  brow 
of  the  easternmost  of  these,  three  little  rising  hillocks  appear- 
ed in  a  contiguous  range.  The  combination  of  these  circum- 
stances doubtless  gave  rise  to  the  name  of  Trimountain. 

No  reason  is  assigned  on  the  records  of  the  court  for 
changing  the  name  of  Trimountain  for  that  of  Boston.  It  is 
however  universally  agreed,  that  the  name  itself  had  been  se- 
lected in  compliment  to  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,  who  at  that 
time  was  a  preacher  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  and  whom 
they  expected  very  soon  to  come  over  and  take  part  in  the 
establishment  of  their  colony.  Boston,  moreover,  had  been  a 
place  of  note  in  the  annals  of  the  persecuted  puritans,  and 
several  of  those  who  first  settled  here  were  born  there  :  and 


*  Mass.  H.  C.  2.  x.  174.  To  the  examples  there  adduced,  may  be  added  Moshawsick  the 
name  of  Providence,  where  is  still  shown  a  venerated  spring,  which  induced  Roger  Wil- 
liams to  stop  his  canoe  and  land  at  that  place. 

Our  Shawmut  is  still  remarkable  for  the  great  number  of  its  productive  springs  of  excel- 
lent water.  A  well  has  recently  been  dug  for  the  accommodation  of  a  house,  building  at  the 
head  of  School  street,  opposite  the  Stone  Chapel.  When  the  workmen  had  reached  the 
depth  of  about  sixty-five  feet,  a  spring  burst  into  the  well  several  feet  from  the  bottom, 
and  flowed  with  such  rapidity  as  to  fill  it  to  the  height  of  forty  feet  in  twenty-five  minutes. 
>"ext  morning  they  undertook  to  draw  out  the  water  by  means  of  a  whip  tackle.  In  the 
course  of  seven  hours,  during  which  time  several  men  with  two  horses  raised  at  the  rate  of 
five  barrels  of  water  in  two  minutes,  making  in  all  more  than  a  thousand  barrels,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  exhausting  the  water  so  far  as  to  admit  of  laying  the  wall.  In  a  few  days  the 
water  assumed  the  usual  level  of  that  in  other  wells. 


34  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

it  is  also  not  improbable,  that  the  sagacity  of  Winthrop  and 
Johnson  seeing  k  the  prognosticks  of  its  future  greatness  writ- 
ten on  the  face  of  nature,  too  legibly  and  too  indelibly  to  be 
mistaken,'  they  may  have  claimed  for  the  place  of  their  choice, 
the  name  originally  intended  for  their  chief  city. 

Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  is  a  borough  town,  seated  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  Witham,  near  its  mouth.  It  is  a  hundred 
and  seventeen  miles  north  of  London.  In  1811,  it  contained 
8113  inhabitants.  It  is  governed  by  a  mayor  and  sends  two 
members  to  parliament.  It  is  famous  for  the  tower  of  its 
Gothick  church,  which  is  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  feet 
high,  being  one  of  the  most  lofty  and  elegant  of  the  kind,  and 
a  noted  sea-mark.  The  English  name,  Boston,  appears  to 
have  been  a  contraction  of  Botolph's  town,  which  name 
the  place  bore  in  old  time,  in  honour  of  Botolph,  a  pious 
Saxon,  who  had  a  monastery  there.  It  is  worthy  of  notice, 
however,  that  Iccan-hoe,  which  was  a  more  ancient  Saxon 
appellation,  signifies  Oxen-town,  between  which  and  the  mean- 
ing of  Boston  there  is  a  fancied  resemblance. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Better  to  sit  in  Freedom's  hall, 
With  a  cold  damp  floor  and  mouldering  wall, 
Than  to  bend  the  heck,  and  to  bow  the  knee 
In  the  proudest  palace  of  slavery. 

German  Epigram* 

The  third  court  of  Assistants  sat  at  Charlestown,  Septem- 
ber 28th,  1630.  The  first  General  Court  of  the  colony  was 
holden  at  Boston,  not  by  representatives,  but  by  every  one 
that  was  free  of  the  corporation,  in  person,  on  the  19th  of  Oc- 
tober following.  Between  these  two  dates,  Gov.  Winthrop 
and  most  of  the  people  had  removed  from  Charlestown, 
where  there  remained  but  seventeen  male  inhabitants.  The 
rank  which  the  several  towns  held  in  point  of  population  and 
wealth  combined,  may  be  discovered  from  the  apportionment 
of  a  tax  of  fifty  pounds,  levied  for  some  military  purposes. 

1.  Charlestown  was  to  pay  £.  7  6.  Medford    .       £.3 

2.  Boston 11  7.  Salem     ...         3 

3.  Dorchester 7  8.  (Weymouth)  2 

4.  Roxbury 5  9.  Nantasket.  .         1 

5.  Watertown 11  

£.  50 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  35 

The  publick  object  of  most  importance  which  first  engaged 
the  attention  of  those  in  office,  was  the  selection  of  a  proper 
place  for  a  fortified  town,  of  which  they  supposed  there  would 
be  great  necessity,  to  secure  them  from  the  natives.  Several 
places  were  proposed.  At  one  meeting,  December  6th,  they 
resolved  to  build  upon  the  neck  between  Roxbury  and  Bos- 
ton, and  appointed  a  committee  to  attend  to  the  business. 
The  committee  met,  and  growing  wiser  by  deliberation,  con- 
cluded that  the  location  was  not  a  suitable  one  for  the  purpose, 
and  agreed  to  meet  again  at  Watertown  to  consider  farther  on 
the  subject.  There,  on  the  21st,  they  made  up  their  minds  to 
erect  their  fortifications  at  a  spot  a  mile  below,  where  they 
thought  was  a  fit  place  for  a  fortified  town  ;  but  at  last  on  the 
28th.  they  finally  decided  on  building  about  three  miles  above 
Charlestown,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  river.  They  called 
the  place  Newtown  (at  present  Cambridge)  and  the  Governour 
and  Deputy,  with  all  the  assistants,  except  Messrs.  Sharp  and 
Endicott  obliged  themselves  to  build  houses  there,  in  the  fol- 
lowing spring.  But  before  much  was  done  in  compliance 
with  this  obligation,  Chicatabot,  the  chief  of  the  Indians  near 
Boston,  came  to  visit  the  Governour,  and  made  such  high 
professions  of  friendship  as  to  diminish  the  apprehensions  of 
danger,  so  that  the  necessity  of  having  a  fortified  town  gradu- 
ally appeared  less  and  less,  until  the  plan  was  wholly  laid 
aside.  This  result  must  have  been  doubly  gratifying  to  the 
people  of  Boston,  who  would  have  regarded  the  formal  estab- 
lishment of  the  seat  of  government  at  Newtown  as  fatal  to  their 
own  prosperity. 

About  a  year  had  now  elapsed  since  the  colony  had  left 
their  native  land.  Many  of  them  had  there  enjoyed  the  best 
of  society.  Their  family  connexions  were  honourable :  their 
professions  and  occupations  in  life  had  been  reputable  and 
profitable,  and  every  comfort,  which  the  possession  of '  fruitful 
lands,  stately  buildings,  goodly  orchards  and  gardens'  could 
afford,  had  been  at  their  command.  Here  they  could  expect 
to  find  notbing  but  a  desert,  without  any  worldly  allurement 
to  recommend  it;  but  they  calculated  on  the  free  enjoyment 
of  religious  privileges,  and  that  sufficed  to  counterbalance 
every  other  consideration.  On  that  they  relied  with  confi- 
dence that  it  would  encourage  them  to  sustain  affliction  and 
hardship  of  every  description,  that  the  imagination  could  an- 
ticipate. The  tenour  of  every  memorial  which  our  first  set- 
tlers have  left  behind  them,  proves  this  to  have  been  their  pre- 
dominant feeling.  Questionless  there  were  some  among  them 
whose  object  was  merchandize,  and  who  devoted  themselves 
to  commercial  pursuits  with  the  hope  of  gain  :  doubtless,  too, 
says  Foxcroft,  in  his  observations  on  the  rise  and  primitive 
state  of  New-England,  '  They  had  a  mixture  of  false  profes- 


36  HISTORY    or   BOSTON. 

sors  among  them,  but  let  me  speak  it  freely,  without  offence 
to  any,  the  first  beginners  of  this  plantation,  as  to  the  body  of 
them,  were  an  excellent  set  of  real  and  living  Christians.' 
And  their  religion  exhibited  itself  pure  and  undefiled  in  the 
scenes  of  distress  which  they  witnessed,  and  the  firmness  of 
their  faith  was  manifested  by  the  patience  with  which  they 
submitted  to  privation,  and  the  perseverance  with  which  they 
pursued  their  object. 

We  have  mentioned  the  prevalence  of  a  mortal  sickness 
among  them  previous  to  the  removal  from  Charlestown.  Its 
ravages  did  not  abate  immediately  in  consequence  of  that 
change  of  residence,  but  continued  till  December,  by  which 
time  two  hundred  at  least  had  fallen  its  victims.*  With  char- 
acleristick  impartiality  death  swept  away  the  wealthy  and 
the  poor,  the  bondman  and  his  master.  Besides  others  of 
note  they  had  to  mourn  over  the  ladies  of  Messrs.  Codding- 
ton  and  Pincheon,  two  of  the  Assistants,  and  the  Lady  Ara- 
bella. The  death  of  the  last  named  personage  excited  a  very 
general  interest.  She  was  the  pride  of  the  colony.  There 
were  several  other  women  of  distinction,  who  encountered  the 
fatigue  and  perils  of  the  day  with  laudable  resolution,  but  the 
devotedness  of  the  lady  Arabella  shone  peculiarly  conspicu- 
ous. She  was  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  her 
union  with  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  very  happy  one.  The  lan- 
guage of  her  soul  to  him  was  such  as  is  ascribed  to  an  ancient 
Spanish  lady — '  whithersoever  your  fatall  destinie  shall  dryve 
you,  ey  ther  by  the  furious  waves  of  the  great  ocean,  or  by 
the  many-folde  and  horrible  dangers  of  the  lande,  I  wyl  sure- 
ly beare  you  company.  There  can  no  peryll  chaunce  to  me 
so  terrible,  nor  any  kinde  of  death  so  cruell,  that  shall  not  be 
much  easier  for  me  to  abyde,  than  to  live  so  farre  separate 
from  you.'  Pattern  of  fidelity  !  her  desire  was  gratified  :  she 
left  the  paradise  of  peace  and  plenty  which  she  enjoyed  in 
the  family  of  her  noble  father,  and  came  into  a  wilderness  of 
wants,  that  proved  too  severe  a  trial  for  her.  The  virtues  of 
her  mind  could  not  protect  her  body  from  the  tide  of  adversi- 
ties, which  overwhelmed  her  soon  after  her  arrival: 

'  O'er  her  soft  form  diseases  sternly  crept, 
And  gave  the  lovely  victim  to  the  tomb.' 

She  died  and  was  buried  at  Salem  in  the  month  of  August. 
The  tears  which  this  event  occasioned  had  scarcely  ceased 
to  flow,  when  the  people  of  Boston  were  called  to  weep  for 
the  loss  of  Mr.  Johnson  himself.  The  death  of  such  a  man 
spread  a  melancholy  paleness   on    every  countenance.     All 

*  When  the  fleet  returned  this  fall,  about  200  of  the  people  either  returned  home  or  left 
Massachusetts  for  various  reasons. — Dudleyh  Letter. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  37 

considered  hitn  as  their  principal  patron.  He  might  be  cal- 
led the  father  of  Boston,  as  it  was  he  that  persuaded  Gover- 
nour  Winthrop  and  the  rest  of  the  company  to  cross  the  river. 
He  was  the  richest  man  of  all  the  planters,  and  had  early  bent 
himself  with  pious  zeal  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  colony. 
He  assisted  many  good  people  with  means  to  come  over,  be- 
queathed a  portion  of  his  property  to  the  company,  and  order- 
ed his  executors  to  carry  on  his  share  or  part  in  it. 

He  was  the  son  of  Abraham  Johnson,  Esq.  of  Clipsham,  in 
the  county  of  Rutland,  and  his  estates  lay  in  Rutland,  North- 
amptonshire, and  Lincolnshire.  The  first  mention  made  of 
him,  in  connexion  with  the  Massachusetts  company,  is  that  he 
was  chosen  one  of  the  Assistants  on  the  thirteenth  of  May, 
sixteen  hundred  and  twenty-nine.  The  confidence  which  the 
corporation  had  in  him  is  evident,  from  their  soon  after  elect- 
ing him  as  a  referee,  in  a  case  of  dispute  which  arose  between 
Mr.  Endicott  and  John  and  Samuel  Brown  at  Salem.  He 
was  one  of  those  that  signed  the  agreement  to  remove,  in  case 
the  government  and  patent  might  be  transferred,  and  one  of 
the  argumentators  appointed  to  discuss  the  expediency  of  that 
measure.  After  the  decision  in  favour  of  that  step,  he  was 
nominated  at  the  same  time  with  Winthrop,  Saltonstall  and 
Humphrey,  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  first  Governour. 
On  his  arrival  here,  he  was  clothed  with  the  powers  of  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  in  that  capacity  presided  with  Winthrop 
at  a  jury  of  inquest  on  the  18th  of  September.  This  is  the  last 
of  his  official  acts  recorded.  The  weight  of  publick  cares, 
added  to  the  burden  of  his  grief  for  the  loss  of  his  wife,  over- 
powered the  strength  of  his  constitution,  and  he  yielded  up 
his  life,  '  in  sweet  peace,'  on  the  30th  of  that  month. 

Mr.  Johnson  had  chosen  for  his  lot  the  square  which  lies 
between  Court  Street,  Washington,  School  and  Common 
Streets.  Tradition  locates  his  house  about  the  centre  of  the 
Northeast  side,  that  is,  near  the  present  site  of  the  old  Court- 
House.  According  to  his  particular  desire  expressed  on  his 
death  bed,  he  was  buried  at  the  Southwest  corner  of  the  lot, 
and  the  people  exhibited  their  attachment  to  him,  by  ordering 
their  bodies  to  be  buried  near  him.  This  was  the  origin  of 
the  first  burying  place,  at  present  the  Chapel  burial  ground. 
There  is  a  mournful  pleasure  in  marking  the  terms  of  affec- 
tion and  respect,  in  which  the  early  writers  uniformly  speak 
of  Mr.  Johnson's  character.  Governour  Winthrop  says 
'  he  was  a  holy  man  and  wise.'  Dudley,  that '  he  was  a  prime 
man  among  us,  zealous  for  religion,  and  made  a  most  godly 
end,  dying  willingly  and  professing  his  life  better  spent  in 
promoting  this  plantation,  than  it  could  have  been  any  other 
way  ;  he  left  to  us  a  loss  greater  than  the  most  conceived.' 
His  namesake,  the  author  of  the  Wonder  Working  Providence, 


38  HISTOKY    OF   BOSTON. 

speaks  of  him  as  '  endued  with  many  precious  gifts,  and  a 
chief  pillar  to  support  this  new  erected  building;  so  that  at 
his  departure  there  were  not  only  many  weeping  eyes,  but 
some  fainting  hearts,  fearing  the  failure  of  the  undertaking  :' 
and  Cotton  Mather  comprehends  all  in  the  report,  that  he 
was  a  perfect  and  upright  man. 

In  the  midst  of  these  afflictions  Dr.  Gager  died.  He 
was  their  principal,  if  not  their  only  physician  and  sur- 
geon. He  is  represented  as  a  man  of  skill  in  his  profession, 
and  we  have  seen  that  the  soundness  of  his  faith,  and  the  pu- 
rity of  his  life  had  promoted  him  to  the  office  of  a  deacon  in 
the  infant  church.  He  was  considered  a  publick  servant,  and 
the  same  court,  which  provided  for  the  salaries  of  the  minis- 
ters, ordered  that  a  house  should  be  built  for  him  against  the 
coming  spring,  that  he  should  be  furnished  with  a  cow,  and 
be  paid  twenty  pounds  for  his  first  year,  and  afterwards  have 
thirty  pounds  per  annum  at  the  common  charge.* 

Several  other  deaths  are  recorded  which  added  to  the 
grief  of  the  people;  among  them  that  of  Mr.  Robert  Welden, 
who  had  been  chosen  to  be  a,  military  captain,  but  died  at 
Charlestown,  before  having  an  opportunity  to  act  in  that  ca- 
pacity. He  was  a  3'oung  gentleman  of  high  promise,  and 
considerable  experience  as  a  soldier.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Boston,  and  interred  with  military  honours,  '  three 
volleys  of  shot'  being  then,  as  at  present,  the  customary  trib- 
ute of  respect. 

There,  was  yet  one  other  distress  to  be  endured,  and  that 
was  the  danger  of  famine.  We  know  they  arrived  too  late 
in  the  season  to  plant,  and  brought  too  small  a  stock  of  pro- 
visions with  them,  and  the  extreme  drought  of  the  summer 
had  threatened  a  total  consumption  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth. 
When  the  winter  set  in,  which  was  on  the  24th  of  December, 
the  cold  came  on  with  violence.  Till  that  day  the  weather 
had  been  for  the  most  part  fair,  and  open,  with  gentle  frosts 
at  night;  but,  by  the  26th,  the  river  was  so  frozen  over  that 
they  of  Charlestown  could  not  come  to  the  sermon  at  Boston, 
till  afternoon  at  high  water.  From  that  time  their  chief  care 
was  to  keep  themselves  warm,  and  as  comfortable  in  other 
respects  as  their  scanty  means  would  permit.  They  were  so 
short  of  provisions  that  many  were  obliged  to  live  upon  mus- 
cles, clams  and  other  shell  fish,  with  groundnuts  and  acorns 
instead  of  bread.  '  Oh,'  says  Roger  Clap,  t  the  hunger  that 
many  suffered,  and  saw  no  hope  in  the  eye  of  reason  to  be 
relieved.  Flesh  of  all  kinds  was  a  rare  thing,  and  bread  so 
very  scarce  that  sometimes  I  thought  .the  very  crumbs  of  my 


*  Douglass,  in  his  way,  says,  '  Winthrop  was  very  charitable  particularly  in  distributing 
his  medicinal  Van  Helmont  nostrums  among  the  poor.' 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  39 

father's  table  would  have  been  sweet  to  me ;  and  when  I 
could  have  meal  and  water  and  salt  boiled  together'  (the  ele- 
ments of  a  favourite  New  England  dish)  '  who  could  wish 
better !' 

Being  thus  situated,  they  beheld  with  much  joy  the  return 
of  Captain  William  Pierce  on  the  5th  of  February  1631,  in 
the  ship  Lion,  laden  with  provisions,  according  to  a  contract 
which   he  had  made  previous  to  his  sailing  away  in   the  fall. 

We  close  this  chapter  of  calamities  with  an  account  of  the 
first  fire  which  is  recorded  to  have  happened  in  Boston. 
About  noon  on  the  16th  of  March,  1631,  the  chimney  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Sharp's  house  caught  fire,  the  splinters  not  being 
clayed  at  the  top,  and  taking  the  thatch  burnt  it  down.  The 
wind  being  Northwest  drove  the  fire  to  Mr.  Colburn's  house* 
which  was  some  rods  off,  and  burnt  that  down  also.  Both  of 
these  gentlemen's  houses  were  as  good  and  as  well  furnished 
as  the  most  in  the  plantation.  Much  of  their  own  furniture  was 
destroyed,  together  with  the  goods  of  some  other  families, 
which  occupied  parts  of  their  houses. 

Captain  Pierce  was  soon  ready  to  return,  and  Mr.  Wilson 
had  made  arrangements  to  go  with  him.  On  the  29th  of 
March  he  had  an  affectionate  meeting  at  the  Governour's, 
with  a  number  of  his  people.  He  recommended  to  them  the 
strict  observance  of  religious  duties  during  his  absence,  and 
designated  Messrs.  Winthrop,  Dudley  and  Nowell,  as  the  per- 
sons in  his  opinion  best  qualified  to  lead  the  devotions  of  the 
congregation.  He  sailed  from  Salem  on  the  first  of  April, 
and  the  Boston  church  was  thus  left  destitute  of  a  preacher, 
until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  John  Eliot  in  the  November  following. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    ITEMS. 


With  a  view  to  exhibit  some  traces  of  the  early  progress  in 
trade,  and  of  the  customs  of  the  times,  we  introduce  a  few 
miscellaneous  articles,  in  this  place. 

1630.  Aug.  23.  Ordered  that  carpenters,  joiners,  brick- 
layers, sawyers  and  thatchers  take  no  more  than  two  shillings 
a  day  under  pain  of  ten  shillings  to  giver  and  taker. — Orders 
similar  to  this  were  frequently  made,  regulating  and  altering 
the  prices  of  labour  and  of  commodities.  Six  years  after,  it 
was  left  to  towns  to  agree  upon  prices  among  themselves. 


*  Mr.  Colburn  was  chosen  deacon  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Gager,  but  is  always  called  by  his 
title  of  Mr.  which  in  those  days  was  used  as  the  term  Esquire  is  at  present.  Church  mem 
ber  were  invariably  distinguished  as  'our  brother' or 'our  sister.'  Goodman  and  Good  wife 
were  common  appellations. 


40  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Oct.  25.  The  Governour  began  to  discourage  the  practice 
of  drinking  toasts  at  table :  so  it  grew  by  little  and  little  to  be 
disused. 

The  Ambrose  was  new  masted  at  Charlestown. 

Messrs.  Winthrop  and  Dudley  joined  with  S.  Maverick  in 
sending  out  a  pinnace  to  trade  for  corn.  She  went  as  far  as 
Rhode  Island  and  procured  a  hundred  bushels. 

Nov.  9.  Proposals  are  issued  to  have  a  ferry  set  up  be- 
tween Boston  and  Charlestown. 

30.  One  man  is  to  be  whipped  for  stealing  a  loaf  of  bread 
and  another  for  shooting  a  fowl  on  the  sabbath  day. 

1631.  March  4.  Nicholas  Knopp  was  fined  five  pounds 
for  taking  upon  him  to  cure  the  scurvy  by  a  water  of  no 
value,  which  he  sold  at  a  very  dear  rate;  to  be  imprisoned 
till  he  pay  his  fine,  or  give  security  for  it,  or  else  be  whipped, 
and  be  liable  to  any  man's  action,  of  whom  he  had  received 
money  for  the  said  water. 

22.  All  who  have  cards,  dice  or  gaming  tables  in  their 
houses  shall  make  way  with  them  before  the  next  court. 

May  18.  Election  day  at  Boston  ;  Winthrop  and  Dudley 
are  rechosen  by  general  consent. 

William  Cheeseborough's  house  burnt  at  Boston,  all  the 
people  being  present. 

Thomas  Williams  undertakes  to  set.  up  the  first  ferry:  has 
four  pence  a  person  from  Winnesimet  to  Boston. 

June  14r     Edward  Con  vers  sets  up  another  ferry. 

July  4.  The  Governour  built  a  bark  at  Mystick,  which  was 
launched  this  day,  and  called  the  Blessing  of  the  Bay.  In 
the  course  of  the  season  this  vessel  made  several  coasting 
trips. 

26.  A  night  watch  of  six  persons  is  established  at  Boston. 
Charlestown  and  Roxbury  were  to  furnish  two  men  each,  and 
Boston  the  other  two. 

Monthly  trainings  are  ordered. 

Aug.  16.     Four  men  fined  for  drinking  too  much. 

Sept.  27.  Mr.  Josias  is  fined  for  stealing  from  the  In- 
dians and  condemned  to  forfeit  his  title  and  henceforth  to  be 
called  Josias. 

Oct.  25.     Gov.  Winthrop  notes  '  a  plentiful  crop.' 

30.  A  stone  house  which  the  Governour  was  erecting  at 
Mystick  was  washed  down  to  the  ground,  in  a  violent  storm, 
the  walls  being  laid  in  clay  instead  of  lime. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON*. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Some  are,  and  must  be,  greater  than  the  rest. 

Pope. 

On  the  second  of  November,  1631,  the  Lion  arrived  again 
from  England,  and  brought  the  Governour's  wife  and  some  of 
his  children,  together  with  the  Rev.  John  Eliot  and  about 
sixty  others.  This  event  afforded  the  Bostonians  an  oppor- 
tunity to  exhibit  their  attachment  to  Mr.  Winthrop  by  one 
of  those  publick  demonstrations,  in  which  they  have  always 
delighted.  The  vessel  was  detained  below  the  town  two 
days,  and  in  that  time  preparation  was  made  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  honourable  passengers.  When  the  Governour  and 
his  family  loft  the  ship,  the  Captain  gave  them  a  salute  of  six 
or  seven  guns,  and  at  the  landing,  the  military  officers  re- 
ceived them  with  a  guard,  and  welcomed  them  with  divers 
volleys  of  shot  and  three  artillery  pieces.  Several  of  the  as- 
sistants and  most  of  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  assem- 
bled to  witness  the  scene  and  to  enhance  the  joyfulness  of 
the  occasion,  marvellous  store  of  kids,  venison,  poultry,  geese 
and  partridges,  and  other  luxuries  were  brought  and  sent  as 
presents.  The  like  manifestation  of  love  had  never  been 
seen  in  New  England.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add  that 
on  the  11th  of  November  they  kept  a  day  of  thanksgiving  at 
Boston. 

The  succeeding  winter  passed  away  without  %.x\y  material 
occurrences.  At  the  General  Court,  in  Boston,  on  the  8th  of 
May,  1632,  the  same  Governour  and  Deputy  were  elected, 
and  it  was  then  thought  expedient  to  pass  an  order  that  two 
men  should  be  chosen  from  each  town,  to  confer  with  the 
Court  of  Assistants  about  raising  a  publick  stock.  This  or- 
der was  the  first  step  towards   a  house  of  representatives.* 


*  More  of  form  was  given  to  this  branch  of  the  government  in  April  1634,  when  it  was 
determined,  that  the  freemen  of  each  plantation  should  choose  two  or  three  before  every 
general  court,  and  that  such  persons  so  deputed  should  have  full  power  to  deal  in  all  the 
affairs  of  the  commonwealth,  wherein  the  freemen  have  to  do,  excepting  only  the  election  of 
magistrates,  at  which  every  man  was  still  to  give  his  own  voice.  In  1636  the  number  of  rep- 
resentatives was  apportioned  according  to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  no  town  to  have  more 
than  three,  and  persons  might  send  their  written  votes,  endorsed  by  the  name  of  the  voter.: 
ftistead  of  attending  in  person  at  the  court  on  Election  day. 

6 


42  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  delegates  were  at  that  time  called  deputies  or  committees, 
and  Messrs.  William  Colburn  and  William  Cheeseborough 
had  the  honour  to  be  the  first  from  Boston. 

Mr.  Wilson  returned  from  London,  bringing  his  wife  with 
him,  on  the  26th  of  May,  and  the  congregation  began  in  Au- 
gust to  build  a  house  for  publick  worship,  and  one  for  the 
residence  of  their  pastor.  Towards  these  purposes  they 
made  a  voluntary  contribution  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds.  The  meeting  house  was  erected  on  the  south  side  of 
State  Street,  opposite  the  new  building  now  erecting  at  the  head 
of  Wilson's  lane,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  United  States' 
Branch  Bank.  Its  roof  was  thatched  and  its  walls  were  of  mud. 
It  would  be  pleasant  to  be  able  to  point  to  the  very  ground 
whereon  this  first  temple  stood.  Mr.  Emerson,  in  his  histori- 
cal sketch  of  the  church,  fixes  it  not  far  from  the  spot  on  which 
the  Exchange  Coffee  House  had  been  newly  reared.  But 
our  search  for  that  edifice  is  equally  unavailing:  literally,  not 
one  stone  of  that  enormous  structure  is  left  upon  another. 
A  writer  in  seventeen  hundred  ninety-five  says  it  was  on 
the  ground  on  which  the  Branch  bank  then  stood  :  we  trust  it 
will  never  be  so  difficult  to  direct  the  future  inquirer  to  the 
new  office  of  the  present  Branch,* 

As  the  season  grew  late  and  the  weather  severe,  those 
members  of  the  church  who  belonged  to  Charlestown,  found 
it  inconvenient  to  attend  worship  in  Boston.  They  therefore 
signified  their  desire  to  constitute  a  new  society  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  The  eleventh  of  October  was  set  apart  for 
seeking  the  direction  of  Heaven,  and  on  the  fourteenth,  eigh- 
teen men  and  fifteen  women  were  peaceably  dismissed  from 
their  relation  to  the  church.  These  afterwards  elected  Mr. 
Thomas  James  for  their  teacher,  and  formed  the  first  congre- 
gational church  in  Charlestown. 

Up  to  that  period  one  hundred  and  fifty  one  members,  of 
whom  one  hundred  and  thirty  were  brethren,  had  joined  the 
Boston  church  in  full  communion.  In  those  days  they  had  a 
distinction  of  offices  in  the  church  which  does  not  prevail 
among  us.  Mr.  Wilson  was  at  first  ordained  as  teacher,  and 
on  the  22d  of  November  he  was  chosen  pastor.  Mr. 
Thomas  Oliver  was  also  chosen  ruling  elder.  They  were 
both  ordained  in  form;  the  two  deacons  first  imposing  hands 
upon  the  elder,  and  then  the  elder  and  two  deacons  upon  the 
pastor.  The  church  made  considerable  effort  to  retain  Mr. 
Eliot  with  them  in  the  capacity  of  teacher,  but  were  disap- 
pointed h}?1  his  fixed  resolution  to  settle  at  Roxbury. 

Boston  was  now  gradually  assuming  preeminence  over  the 
other  towns.      The  court  had  resolved  by  general  consent,  in 

*  The  Dorchester  people  had  built  a  meeting  house  prior  to  March  1632* 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  43 

October,  that  it  was  the  fittest  place  for  publick  meetings  of 
any  in  the  bay,  and  ordered  a  house  of  correction  to  be  built 
here,  and  also  a  house  for  the  beadle,  which  was  a  corpora- 
tion officer,  something  similar  to  a  sheriff.  Considerable 
progress  had  been  made  towards  the  fortification  of  the 
town,  by  works  on  Fort  Hill,  which  was  then  called  Corn 
Hill,  and  the  people  had  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  land 
within  the  peninsula  was  not  sufficient  for  their  use.  The 
right  of  improving  several  places,  in  the  neighbourhood,  for 
their  cattle  and  the  procuring  of  wood,  had  therefore  been 
granted  them.  Another  ferry  had  also  become  necessary  be- 
tween this  and  Charlestown,  and  the  wind  mill  had  been 
brought  from  Watertovvn.  The  latter  was  a  source  of  profit. 
It  would  seem  that  Dudley  did  not  witness  this  advance  of 
Boston  with  perfect  satisfaction.  According  to  the  agreement 
before  mentioned,  he  with  Mr.  Secretary  Bradstreet  and  oth- 
er gentlemen  of  note,  went  forward  in  the  spring  of  sixteen 
hundred  thirty-one,  with  their  design  to  build  at  Newtown.  The 
Deputy  finished  his  house  in  a  style  which  the  Governour 
thought  too  expensive  and  showy,  both  on  account  of  the  hard- 
ness of  the  times,  and  of  the  example,  which  might  lead  others 
to  undue  extravagance.  A  wainscoting  of  clapboards  con- 
stituted this  offensive  peculiarity.  The  Governour  himself 
had  also  set  up  a  house  at  Newtown,  but  in  the  course  of  the 
fall  he  had  it  taken  down  and  removed  to  Boston,  where  he 
had  resolved  in  future  to  reside.  This  step  was  no  small  dis- 
appointment to  the  rest,  and  occasioned  some  ill  will  between 
the  Governour  and  Deputy.  The  latter  accused  the  former 
of  a  breach  of  his  promise  to  build  at  Newtown.  The  dis- 
content became  so  great  that  their  mutual  friends  advised 
them  to  submit  the  subject  to  the  opinion  of  several  ministers. 
The  Governour's  answer  to  the  accusation  against  him  was, 
that  he  had  fulfilled  the  words  of  his  promise,  having  had  a 
house  up,  and  servants  living  in  it  by  the  day  appointed. 
As  to  the  removal  of  the  house,  he  alleged  that  he  perceived 
the  other  assistants  did  not  go  forward  in  building  :  and  more- 
over, the  people  of  Boston  having  been  discouraged  by  the 
Deputy  from  removing  to  Newtown,  had  petitioned  him,  under 
all  their  hands,  not  to  leave  them,  according  to  the  promise 
he  had  made  to  them,  when  they  first  sat  down  with  him  at 
Boston.  On  these  and  similar  explanations,  the  referees 
agreed  that  the  Governour's  conduct  was  in  some  degree  ex- 
cusable, and  he  acknowledged  himself  faulty,  so  far  as  hey 
declared  him  to  be  so.  They  awarded  that  he  should  pay 
the  Deputy  twenty  pounds  towards  his  expenses  in  building, 
or  else  provide  a  minister  for  the  people  at  Newtown,  and 
contribute  something  towards  his  maintenance  for  a  time.  The 
Governour  wisely  chose  to  do  the  former,  and  remitted  the 


44  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

money.  The  Deputy  was  not  behind  him  in  complaisance, 
and  returned  the  same  with  assurances  that  he  was  so  well 
satisfied  of  the  Governour's  good  will,  that  he  should  not  have 
been  tempted  to  accept  it,  if  it  had  been  a  hundred  pounds 
instead  of  twenty.  Thus  this  difficulty  terminated,  and  they 
afterwards  kept  peace  and  friendly  correspondency  together. 

Fac  simile  of  the  Govemour  and  Deputy's  Signatures. 


^;#^W; 


wood's  description. 

The  rising  importance  of  the  Massachusetts  colony  early 
attracted  the  attention  of  travellers  as  well  as  of  statesmen,  and 
perhaps  the  fair  report  of  some  of  the  former  may  have  had  as 
much  influence  in  awakening  the  jealousy  of  the  latter,  as  the 
misrepresentations  of  some  disaffected  persons  are  supposed  to 
have  had.  William  Wood,  the  author  of  New  England's 
Prospect,  has  furnished  us  with  the  result  of  his  observations 
in  and  about  Boston  in  the  year  1633.  His  descriptions  are 
so  accurate  that  they  could  hardly  be  amended,  and  the  facts 
noticed  by  him  are  mostly  corroborated  by  other  accounts. 
They  are  therefore  peculiarly  entitled  to  a  place  here. 

'  First  I  will  begin  with  the  outmost  plantation  in  the  patent, 
to  the  southward,  which  is  called  Wichaguscusset  [Wey- 
mouth.] This  is  but  a  small  village,  yet  is  well  timbered  and 
hath  good  store  of  hay  ground. — Three  miles  to  the  north  of 
this  is  Mount  Wolaston,  a  very  fertile  soil,  and  a  place  very 
convenient  for  farmers'  houses,  there  being  great  store  of 
plain  ground,  without  trees. — Six  miles  further  to  the  north 
lieth  Dorchester,  which  is  the  greatest  town  in  New  England, 
well  wooded  and  watered,  very  good  arable  and  hay  grounds. 
The  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  the  first  that  set  upon  the 
trade  of  fishing  in  the  bay. — A  mile  from  this  town  lieth  Rox- 
bury  which  is  a  fair  and  handsome  country  town ;  the  inhab- 
itants of  it  being  all  very  rich  :  a  clear  and  fresh  brook  runs 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  45 

through  the  town,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  north  is  a 
small  river  called  Stony  River,  upon  which  is  built  a  water 
mill.  Up  westward  it  is  something  rocky,  whence  it  hath  the 
name  of  Roxbury.  Here  is  no  harbour  for  ships,  because 
the  town  is  seated  in  the  bottom  of  a  shallow  bay;  which  is 
made  by  the  neck  of  land  on  which  Boston  is  built,  so  that 
they  can  transport  all  their  goods  from  the  ships  in  boats 
from  Boston,  which  is  the  nearest  harbour. 

'  This  harbour  is  made  by  a  great  company  of  islands, 
whose  high  cliffs  shoulder  out  the  boisterous  seas  ;  yet  may  ea- 
sily deceive  any  unskilful  pilot ;  presenting  many  fair  openings 
and  broad  sounds,  which  afford  too  shallow  water  for  ships, 
though  navigable  for  boats,  and  pinnaces.  It  is  a  safe  and 
pleasant  harbour  within,  having  but  one  common  and  safe  en- 
trance, and  that  not  very  broad  ;  there  scarce  being  room  for 
three  ships  to  come  in  board  and  board  at  a  time  ;  but  being 
once  in,  there  is  room  for  the  anchorage  of  500  ships.  The 
seamen  having  spent  their  old  store  of  wood  and  water,  may 
here  have  fresh  supplies  from  the  adjacent  islands,  with  good 
timber  to  repair  their  weather  beaten  ships. 

'  Boston  is  two  miles  N.  E.  of  Roxbury.  Its  situation  is 
very  pleasant,  being  a  peninsula  hemmed  in  on  the  south 
side  by  the  bay  of  Roxbury,  and  on  the  north  side,  with 
Charles  river,  the  marshes  on  the  back-side,  being  not  half  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  over ;  so  that  a  little  fencing  will  secure 
their  cattle  from  the  wolves.  The  greatest  wants  are  wood 
and  meadow  ground,  which  never  were  in  this  place  ;*  being 
constrained  to  fetch  their  building  timber,  and  fire  wood  from 
the  islands  in  boats,  and  their  hay  in  loyters  ;  it  being  a 
neck,  and  bare  of  wood,  they  are  not  troubled  with  these 
great  annoyances,  wolves,  rattlesnakes  and  muspuetos. 
Those,  that  live  here  upon  their  cattle,  must  be  constrained  to 
take  farms  in  the  country,  or  else  they  cannot  subsist ;  the 
place  being  too  small  to  contain  many,  and  fittest  for  such  as 
can  trade  into  England,  for  such  commodities  as  the  country 
wants,  being  the  chief  place  for  shipping  and  merchandize. 

'  This  neck  of  land  is  not  above  four  miles  in  compass,  in 
form  almost  square,  having  on  the  south  side,   at   one  corner, 


*  Mr.  Wood  was  wrong  in  asserting  that  '  wood  was  never  in  this  place.'1  It  had  doubtless 
been  the  favourite  residence  of  the  natives  for  many  years,  and  a  considerable  portion  had 
been  cleared  by  burning,  as  was  their  custom  for  the  culture  of  corn ;  hence  it  was  sometimes 
called  the  plain  neck,  and  compared  with  the  surrounding  country,  covered  with  intermina- 
ble forests,  it  might,  with  propriety  be  called  plain.  There  were,  however,  many  large 
clumps  left,  sufficient  for  fuel  and  timber.  The  growth  was  probably  similar  to  that  of  the 
islands.  Had  the  peninsula  been  wholly  denuded  of  trees,  even  the  temptation  of  Mr.  Black- 
stone's  spring  of  fresh  water,  could  not  have  induced  the  first  planters  to  settle  at  Shawmut 
on  the  approach  of  a  rigorous  winter.— Shaw. 


46 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


a  great  broad  hill,  whereon  is  planted  a  fort,  which  can  com- 
mand any  ship,  as  she  sails  into  the  harbour  within  the  still 
bay.  On  the  north  side  is  another  hill,  equal  in  bigness, 
whereon  stands  a  windmill.  To  the  northwest  is  a  high 
mountain,  with  three  little  rising  hills  on  the  top  of  it,  where- 
fore it  is  called 

THE  TRAMOUNT. 


i 


9K1       tcsw 

*  m 


'From  the  top  of  this  mountain,  a  man  may  overlook  all  the 
islands  which  lie  within  the  bay,  and  descry  such  ships  as 
are  on  the  sea  coast. 

'  This  town  although  it  be  neither  the  greatest  nor  the  rich- 
est, yet  is  the  most  noted  and  frequented,  being  the  centre  of 
the  plantations,  where  the  monthly  courts  are  kept.  Here 
likewise  dwells  the  Governour.  This  place  hath  very  good 
land  affording  rich  corn-fields  and  fruitful  gardens,  having 
likewise  sweet  and  pleasant  springs.  The  inhabitants  of  this 
place,  for  their  enlargement,  have  taken  to  themselves  farm 
houses  in  a  place  called  Muddy  River,  [Brookline]  two  miles 
from  the  town,  where  there  is  good  ground,  large  tim- 
ber, and  store  of  marsh  land  and  meadow.  In  this  place 
they  keep  their  swine  and  other  cattle  in  the  summer,  whilst 
the  corn  is  in  the  ground  at  Boston,  and  bring  them  to  town 
in  the  winter. 

'  NewLown  [Cambridge]  is  one  of  the  neatest  and  best  com- 
pacted towns  in  New  England,  having-  many  fair  structures, 
with  many  handsome  contrived  streets  :  the  inhabitants  most 
of  them  are  very  rich. — Half  a  mile  westward  of  this  is  Wa- 
tertown,  a  place  nothing  inferior  for  land,  wood,  meadows 
and  water  to  Newtown.  Within  half  a  mile  of  this  town  is  a 
great  pond  which  is  divided  between  the  two  towns,  and  di- 
vides their  bounds  to  the  northward.  Both  towns  are  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river  Charles. 

'  On  the  same  side  of  that  river  is  Charlestown,  which  is 
another  neck  of  land,  on  whose  north  side  runs  Mystick  river. 
At  this  town  there  is  kept  a  ferry  boat  to  convey  passengers 
over  Charles  river,  which  between  the  banks  is  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  over,  being  a  very  deep  channel.     Up  higher  is  a  broad 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTOJT.  47 

bay,  being  above  two  miles  between  the  shores,  into  which 
run  Stony  river  and  Muddy  river.  Towards  the  southwest  in 
the  midst  of  this  bay  is  a  great  oyster  bank :  towards  the 
northeast  is  a  great  creek,  upon  whose  shore  is  situated  a 
small  village  [included  within  the  bounds  of  Charlestown.] 
At  the  bottom  of  this  bay,  the  river  begins  to  be  narrower, 
being  but  half  a  quarter  of  a  mile  broad. 

'  The  next  town  is  Mystick  [Medford]  which  is  three  miles 
from  Charlestown  by  land,  and  a  league  and  a  half  by  water. 
It  is  seated  by  the  water  side  very  pleasantly;  there  are  not 
many  houses  as  yet.  On  the  west  side  of  this  river  the  Gov- 
ernour  hath  a  farm,  where  he  keeps  most  of  his  cattle.  On 
the  east  side  is  Mr.  Craddock's  plantation,  where  he  hath  a 
park  impaled  and  keeps  his  cattle,  till  he  can  store  it  with 
deer.  Here  likewise  he  is  at  charges  of  building  ships.  The 
last  year  one  was  upon  the  stocks  of  an  hundred  tons  ;  that 
being  finished  they  are  to  build  one  of  twice  her  burden. 

'  The  last  town  in  the  still  bay  is  Winnesimet  [Chelsea,]  a 
very  sweet  place  for  situation :  it  is  within  a  mile  of  Charles- 
town, the  river  only  parting  them. 

'  The  next  plantation  is  Saugus  [including  Lynn]  six  miles 
northeast  from  Winnesimet.  This  town  is  pleasant  for  situa- 
tion, seated  at  the  bottom  of  a  bay,  which  is  made  on  one  side 
with  the  surrounding  shore,  and  on  the  other  side  with  a  long 
sandy  beach,  which  is  two  miles  long  to  the  end,  whereon  is 
a  neck  of  land  called  Nahant.  Upon  the  south  side  of  the 
sandy  beach  the  sea  beateth,  which  is  a  true  prognostication, 
to  presage  storms  and  foul  weather,  and  the  breaking  up  of 
the  frost :  for  when  a  storm  hath  been  or  is  likely  to  be,  it 
will  roar  like  thunder,  so  as  to  be  heard  six  miles.  Upon  the 
north  side  of  this  bay  are  two  great  marshes  which  are  made 
two  by  a  pleasant  river  which  runs  between  them.  At  the 
mouth  of  this  river  runs  up  a  great  creek  into  that  great  marsh 
which  is  called  Romney  Marsh,  and  is  four  miles  long  and 
two  miles  broad,  half  of  it  being  marsh  ground,  and  half  up- 
land grass  without  tree  or  bush.' 

These  descriptions  were  sketched  before  the  fifteenth  of 
August,  1633,  on  which  day  Wood  set  sail  for  England,  and 
were  published  the  next  year  accompanied  with  a  curious 
map,  engraved  on  wood. 


4B  HISTORY   OF  BOSTON 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Lands  you  may  have,  we  value  not  the  soil, 
Accounting  tillage  too  severe  a  toil." 

While  the  people  of  Boston  depended  in  good  measure 
upon  the  productions  of  their  farms  and  gardens  for  subsist- 
ence, their  wants  could  not  be  supplied  from  the  land  within 
the  peninsula,  which  did  not  originally  exceed  seven  hundred 
acres.  They  were  therefore  allowed  to  extend  themselves 
into  various  parts  of  the  adjacent  territory,  and  many  of  the 
places  described  in  the  extract  we  have  just  finished,  were 
under  the  improvement  of  Bostonians.  Conant's  Island 
[Governour's  1.]  was  granted  to  Gov.  Winthrop  for  a  nominal 
rent,  and  thus  became  a  part  of  Boston,  in  April  sixteen 
hundred  and  thirty-two.  In  the  same  year,  that  part  of  Chel- 
sea between  Powder-horn  hill  and  Pull-in  point  was  assigned 
to  Boston  forever,  and  not  a  long  time  after,  the  whole  of  Win- 
nesimet  was  annexed.  Brookline  or  Muddy  river  was  owned 
and  occupied  by  persons  considered  as  belonging  to  Boston. 
As  early  as  April  1634,  Long  Island,  Hog  and  Deer  Islands, 
were  granted  to  Boston  by  the  court  for  a  nominal  yearly 
rent,  and  convenient  enlargement  at  Mount  Wolaston  was  al- 
lowed to  her  inhabitants.  They  were  allowed  to  cut  wood 
on  Dorchester  neck,  but  the  jurisdiction  was  to  remain  with 
Dorchester.  Romney  Marsh,  Spectacle  Island,  and  Noddle's 
Island  were  added  before  the  end  of  sixteen  hundred  and 
thirty-six.  These  grants  are  recorded  in  the  colony  records, 
and  it  is  probable  the  remaining  Islands  were  occasionally 
annexed  afterwards.  At  these  several  places,  portions  were 
allotted  to  every  family  in  Boston  according  to  their  number 
and  necessities. 

The  question  has  been  asked,  by  what  right  did  our  ances- 
tors take  and  retain  possession  of  the  lands  we  inherit?  The 
answer  is  as  complete  and  satisfactory  as  such  a  case  admits. 
So  far  as  the  King  of  England's  title  was  concerned,  the  grant 
of  the  council  of  Plymouth  to  the  six  gentlemen  and  their  asso- 
ciates, and  the  subsequent  confirmation  of  the  King,  which 
empowered  them  and  others  to  dispose  of  the  lands  to  the 
best  advantage,  were  considered  sufficient  to  cancel  his  claim 
to  property  in  the  soil. 

The  Indians  that  formerly  possessed  these  parts  werefewin 
number  when  our  fathers  arrived.  A  pestilence  had  not   long 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTOIf.  49 

before  carried  off  whole  tribes  in  a  manner  almost  in- 
credible. Of  such  as  remained  near  Boston,  the  greater  part 
were  peaceably  disposed,  and  Chicatabot,  the  reigning  sa- 
chem, instead  of  repelling  the  settlers  from  his  dominions  by 
force  of  arms,  administered  to  their  comfort,  and  finally  sold 
them  this  speck  of  his  extensive  territory  for  a  valuable  con- 
sideration. The  evidence  of  the  conveyance  is  found  in  a  quit- 
claim deed  of  one  of  his  grandsons  :  it  is  a  very  curious  docu- 
ment, dated  in  March  sixteen  hundred  eighty-five,*  and  we 
insert  it  for  the  satisfaction  or  amusement  of  the  present 
inhabitants.  At  this  distance  of  time,  to  be  sure,  there  is  no 
danger  of  disturbance  from  the  descendants  of  Chicatabot ; 
still  the  peaceable  and  upright  manner,  in  which  our  ancestors 
obtained  a  title  to  the  soil,  is  not  to  be  forgotten. 

To  understand  the  occasion  of  this  and  similar  instruments 
drawn  about  the  same  period,  it  is  necessary  to  anticipate  the 
fact  that  the  charter,  or  patent  under  which  the  Massachusetts 
colony  held,  was  likely  then  to  be  vacated  •,  and  the  people 
were  told  that  in  that  case  their  title  to  their  estates  would  be 
of  no  value.  Besides,  even  if  the  vacating  of  the  charter 
might  not  annihilate  the  rights  acquired  under  it  in  legal  form, 
it  was  said  that  the  General  Court  had  not  made  their  grants 
of  land  under  the  seal  of  the  colony.  This  was  represented 
as  a  glaring  defect,  which  possession  and  improvement  could 
not  supply.  When  the  patent  was  annulled  (of  which  official 
information  was  received  July  2,  1685)  and  a  new  govern- 
ment established,  writs  of  intrusion  were  brought  against  some 
of  the  principal  persons  in  the  colony,  and  the  landholders 
were  obliged  to  acknowledge  the  insufficiency  of  their  title, 
and  pay  the  fees  for  a  new  deed.  Randolph,  a  notable  char- 
acter, petitioned  for  half  an  acre  of  land,  to  be  taken  out  of 
the  common  in  Boston,  and  other  favourites  looked  with  a 
longing  eye  on  some  of  the  best  estates,  especially  where  the 
property  was  in  a  town  or  company  :  hence  it  was  important 
to  have  in  readiness  every  possible  proof  to  evidence  the 
rightful  possession  of  the  occupants.! 


*  See  a  copy  of  this  Indian  Quitclaim  in  Appendix  No.  I. 

7  See  Hutch.  Hist.  i.  ch.  iii.    There  was  no  registry  of  deeds  here  before  1652 


50  HISTORY    OF  B°iTOX. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  gentleman  that  is  very  singular  in  his  behaviour, 

but  his  singularities  proceed  from  his  good  sense. — Spectator. 

There  was  another  claim  beside  that  of  the  Indians  and 
the  king  of  England,  which  the  settlers  at  Boston  were  bound 
to  satisfy.  By  right  of  previous  possession,  Mr.  Blackstone 
had  a  title  to  proprietorship  in  the  whole  peninsula.  It  was 
in  fact  for  a  time  called  Blackstone's  neck.  How  far  he  con- 
sidered himself  the  owner  of  the  soil,  and  what  agreement  he 
made  with  Mr.  Johnson  when  he  invited  him  to  cross  the  river, 
does  not  now  appear.  The  records  of  the  colony  inform  us 
that  in  April  1633,  the  court  ordered  fifty  acres  of  ground  to 
be  set  out  for  him,  near  to  his  house  in  Boston,  to  belong  to 
him  forever.  This  quantity  amounted  to  at  least  a  fourteenth 
part  of  the  whole  place,  which  shows  that  his  rights  as  orig- 
inal possessor  were  not  regarded  altogether  null.  On  the 
Boston  records  under  date  of  November  10,  1634,  among 
other  taxes  assigned  to  William  Cheeseborough  the  constable, 
and  others  for  assessment  and  collection,  we  find  a  rate  of 
thirty  pounds  to  Mr.  Blackstone  :  for  what  purpose  it  was 
levied  will  appear  from  the  following 

DEPOSITION. 

The  deposition  of  John  Odlin,  aged  about  Eighty  two 
yeares,  Robert  Walker  aged  about  Seventy  Eight  yeares, 
Francis  Hudson  aged  about  Sixty  eight  yeares,  and  Wil- 
liam Lytherland  aged  about  Seventy  Six  yeares.  These 
Deponents,  being  ancient  dwellers  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  in  New-England  from  the  first  planting  and 
Setling  thereof  and  continuing  so  at  this  day,  do  jointly 
testify  and  depose  that  in  or  about  the  yeare  of  our  Lord 
One  thousand  Six  hundred  thirty  and  four  the  then  present 
Inhabitants  of  said  Town  of  Boston  (of  whome  the  Honour- 
able John  Winthrop  Esq.  Governour  of  the  Colony  was 
chiefe)  did  treate  and  agree  with  Mr.  William  Blackstone 
for  the  purchase  of  his  Estate  and  right  in  any  Lands  lying 
within  the  said  neck  of  Land  called  Boston,  and  for  said 
purchase  agreed  that  every  householder  should  pay  Six 
Shillings,  which  was  accordingly  collected,  none  paying 
less,  some  considerably  more  than  Six  Shillings,  and  the 
said  sume  collected,  was  delivered  and  paid  to  Mr.  Black- 
stone to  his   full  content  and  Satisfaction,  in  consideration 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  51 

whereof  hee  Sold  unto  the  then  Inhabitants  of  said  Town 
and  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  his  whole  right  and 
interest  in  all  and  every  of  the  Lands  lying  within  the  said 
Neck  Reserveing  onely  unto  him  selfe  about  Six  acres  of 
Land  on  the  point  commonly  called  Blackstons  point  on 
part  whereof  his  then  dwelling  house  stood  ;  after  which 
purchase  the  Town  laid  out  a  place  for  a  trayning  field  ; 
which  ever  since  and  now  is  used  for  that  purpose,  and  for 
the  feeding  of  cattell  :  Robert  Walker,  and  William 
Lytherland  farther  Testify  that  Mr.  Blackstone  bought  a 
stock  of  Cows  with  the  Money  he  received  as  above,  and 
Removed  and  dwelt  near  Providence  where  he  liv'd  till  the 
day  of  his  Death. 

Deposed  this  10th  of  June  1684,  by  John  Odlin,  Robert 
Walker,   Francis   Hudson,   and  William    Lytherland 
according  to  their  respective  Testimonye 
Before  us 

&.  23ratrStiTCt,  Governour. 
Sam.  <&CfoalL  Assist. 

Precisely  at  what  time  Mr.  Blackstone  ceased  to  be  an  in- 
habitant of  Boston  we  are  not  informed.  His  name  appears 
once  more  in  the  colony  records  under  date  of  April  7,  1635, 
when  Nahanton  was  ordered  to  pay  him  two  skins  of  beaver 
for  damages  done  his  swine  by  setting  of  traps.  An  allotment 
of  fifteen  acres  at  Muddy  river  was  made  to  him  by  the  allot- 
ters  of  Boston,  in  January  1638,  and  on  the  ninth  of  March  in 
the  same  year,  his  name  is  mentioned  for  the  last  time,  in  des- 
cribing the  boundaries  of  certain  lots  of  lands.  It  is  stated  by 
one  author*  that  he  left  Boston  about  that  time,  which  cor- 
responds with  the  statement  of  another!  that  he  lived  in  Bos- 
ton nine  or  ten  years. 

Mr*  Blackstone  was  a  very  eccentrick  character.  He  was 
a  man  of  learning,  and  had  received  episcopal  ordination  in 
England  ;  seems  to  have  been  of  the  puritan  persuasion  and 
to  have  left  his  native  country  for  his  nonconformity.  Johnson 
says  he  was  here  before  the  vernal  of  twenty-nine,  which 
makes  him  to  have  come  over  with  Mr.  Endicott.  Hubbard 
adopts  the  authority  and  tells  us  he  began  to  hew  stones  in 
the  mountains,  wherewith  to  build,  but  when  he  saw  all  sorts 
of  stones  would  not  suit  in  the  building,  as  he  supposed,  he 
betook  himself  to  till  the  ground,  wherein  probably  he  was 
more  skilled,  or  at  least  had  a  better  faculty  ;  retaining  no 
symbol  of  his  former  profession  but  his  canonical  coat. 
Mather   is   less   rude,  and  allows   him  to  have  been  a  godly 


*  Backus  Vol.  i.  58. 

f  Lechford,   who    wrote   his   '  Plain  Pealing' in  1641.     Hutch.  1.  ch..  i.  V. 


52  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

episcopalian,  though  he  was  of  a  particular  humour,  and 
would  never  join  himself  to  any  of  our  churches,  giving  this 
reason  for  it :  /  came  from  England,  because  I  did  not  like  the 
lord-bishops  ;  but  I  cannot  join  with  you,  because  I  would  not  be 
under  the  lord-brethren.* 

He  had  been  admitted  to  take  the  freeman's  oath  in 
May,  1631,  before  the  order  was  passed,  which  restricted 
that  privilege  to  church  members  only.  He  cultivated  with 
success  the  six  acres  which  he  retained,  and  soon  had  a  gar- 
den plot  and  an  orchard,  near  his  cottage  and  spring.  These 
we  lake  to  have  been  situated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
present  Alms  House.  The  point,  at  which  Cragie's  bridge 
commences,  is  called,  on  the  ancient  plans  of  the  town, 
Barton's  point,  and  is  the  same  referred  to  in  the  foregoing 
deposition. 

It  was  not  very  long  before  Mr.  Blackstone  found  that  there 
might  be  more  than  one  kind  of  nonconformity,  and  was  virtu- 
ally obliged  to  leave  the  remainder  of  his  estate  here,  and  re- 
move a  second  time  into  the  wilderness.  We  have  no  thought 
that  '  he  was  driven  from  Boston  because  he  was  an  episcopal 
minister,'  but  a  man  may  be  very  ill  at  ease  in  many  a  place 
where  he  may  be  allowed  to  stay  by  sufferance.  Let  the 
cause  of  his  removal  have  been  what  it  may,  certain  it  is  that 
he  went  and  settled  by  the  Pawtucket  river, '  built  a  house 
and  cultivated  part  of  the  land  now  comprising  the  Whipple 
farm  in  Cumberland,'    Rhode  Island. 

The  place  to  which  he  removed,  the  '  Attleborough  Gore* 
of  history,  fell  within  the  limits  of  Plymouth  colony,  in  the 
records  of  which  colony  we  find  still  farther  memoirs  of  this 
respectable  and  memorable  man.  His  name,  however,  does 
not  occur  in  those  records  until  the  year  1661,  when  mention 
is  made  of  a  place  '  called  by  the  natives  Waweepoonseag, 
where  one  Blackstone  now  liveth.'  This  was  probably  the 
aboriginal  name  of  a  rivulet,  at  present  known  as  Abbot's 
Run,  which  is  tributary  to  the  Pawtucket.  At  this  his  new 
plantation  he  lived  uninterrupted  for  many  years,  and  there 
raised  an  orchard,  the  first  that  ever  bore  apples  in  Rhode 
Island.  He  had  the  first  of  the  sort  called  yellow,  sweetings, 
that  were  ever  in  the  world,  and  is  said  to  have  planted  the 
first  orchard  in  Massachusetts  also. 

Mr.  Blackstone's  house  was  situated  near  the  banks  of  the 
river,  on  a  knoll  which  he  named  Study  Hill.  It  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  park,  which  was  his  favourite  and  daily  walk 
for  a  series  of  years.  Though  he.  was  far  from  agreeing  in 
opinion  with  Roger  Williams,  he  used  frequently  to  go  to 
Providence  to  preach  the  gospel;  and  to  encourage  his 
younger  hearers,  while  he  gratified  his  own  benevolent  dispo- 

*  Hubburd  N.E.  p.  113.    Johnson  W.  W.  P.  ch.  ix.    Magnalia  i.  221. 


© 


P 


HI 

® 

N 

3 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTOW.  53 

sition,  he  would  give  them  of  his  apples,  which  were  the  first 
they  ever  saw.  It  is  said  that  when  he  grew  old  and  unable 
to  travel  on  foot,  not  having  any  horse,  he  used  to  ride  on  a 
bull,  which  he  had  tamed  and  tutored  to  that  use.  He  died 
May  26,  1675,  and  lies  buried  on  classick  ground,  on  Study 
Hill,  where  a  flat  stone  marks  his  grave. 

Concerning  Mr.  Blackstone's  family  we  infer  that  it  con- 
sisted of  but  three  persons  while  he  continued  in  Boston  :  he 
having  had  a  portion  for  three  heads  allotted  to  him  at  Muddy 
River.  His  wife,  whose  name  was  Sarah,  died  about  two 
years  before  him.  He  left  a  son  named  John,  for  whom 
guardians  were  appointed  in  1675,  and  a  daughter  who  was 
married  to  Mr.  John  Stevenson. 

The  death  of  this  venerable  pilgrim  happened  at  a  critical 
period,  the  beginning  of  an  Indian  war.  His  estate  was  des- 
olated, and  his  house  burnt  by  the  natives.  His  library 
which  contained  a  hundred  and  eighty-six  volumes,  from  folios 
to  pamphlets,  shared  the  same  fate.  His  family  is  now  ex- 
tinct :  but  we  hope  and  trust  the  musing  stranger  will  hereaf- 
ter find  his  name  on  some  marble  tablet  of  historical  inscrip- 
tions erected  by  the  munificent  hand  of  some  Bostonian.* 


CHAPTER  XL 

For  empire  formed,  and  fit  to  rule  the  rest. 

Dnjden. 

The  long  desired  arrival  of  Mr.  Cotton  took  place  on  the 
fourth  of  September,  1633.  He  came  in  the  Griffin,  a  ship 
of  three  hundred  tons,  which  brought  about  two  hundred 
other  passengers.  His  celebrity  which  was  great  in  England, 
had  already  filled  the  American  settlements,  and  prepared 
him  a  most  welcome  reception.  His  talent^  were  considered 
common  property,  and  it  was  the  immediate  concern  of  the 
wise  and  good,  where  he  should  fix  his  residence  and  how 
receive  an  honourable  support.  He  might  have  selected  any 
situation  in  the  country,  and  was  indeed  urged  to  accept  seve- 
ral invitations  other  than  what  he  received  in  Boston,  but  he 
was  somewhat  compelled  by  the  advice  of  the  Governour  and 
a  council  of  the  elders  in  the  colony,  as  well  as  the  unanimous 
voice  of  the  First  Church  here  to  bestow  his  principal  labours. 
It  was  at  first  proposed  that  Mr.  Cotton  should  be  maintained 
from  the  treasury,  in  consideration  of  the  political  as  well  as 
ecclesiastical  benefits,  that  were  expected  from  his  ministry  ; 

*  Mass.  II.  C.  2.  ix.  174.  x.  170. 


54  HISTORY    OE   BOSTO\. 

but  the  maturer  judgment  of  a  majority  of  the  council  quash- 
ed the  proposal. 

Mr.  Cotton  was  ordained  teacher  of  the  First  Church  on  the 
tenth  of  October  ;  and  on  the  same  day  Mr.  Thomas  Leverett 
was  chosen  a  ruling  elder,  and  Mr.  Giles  Firmin,  sen.  a  godly 
apothecary  from  Sudbury  in  England  was  chosen  deacon.* 
In  addition  to  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  elders,  as  in 
the  case  of  Mr.  Wilson,  the  ceremony  of  calling  on  the  people 
to  signify  their  election  of  the  candidate,  and  on  him  to  ac- 
knowledge his  acceptance  of  their  call,  and  also  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  the  neighbouring  min- 
isters, was  introduced  on  this  occasion.  Immediately  upon 
his  induction,  Mr.  Cotton  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  ; 
and  so  great  was  his  influence  both  in  ecclesiastical  and  civil 
affairs,  that  the  measures  he  recommended  were  forthwith 
adopted  in  the  church,  and  his  private  political  counsels  were 
with  equal  readiness  enforced  by  the  government.! 

Considerable  trading  had  already  been  carried  on  at  Bos- 
ton, but  there  appears  not  to  have  been  any  regular  system 
introduced,  until  March,  1634.  In  Gov.  Winthrop's  journal 
for  that  month,  it  is  stated  that  by  order  of  court  a  market 
was  erected  at  Boston  to  be  kept  upon  Thursday  the  fifth  day 
of  the  week,  being  lecture  day.  f  Samuel  Cole  set  up  the  first 
house  of  entertainment,  and  John  Cogan,  merchant,  the  first 
shop.  In  July  of  the  preceding  year,  a  proposition  had  been 
made  by  the  Plymouth  people,  to  have  the  Bostonians  join 
with  them  in  trading  to  Connecticut,  but  they  thought  fit  not 
to  meddle  with  it. 

The  General  Court  this  year  held  their  session  in  Mr.  Cot- 
ton's meeting  house.  It  fell  to  his  lot  to  preach  the  Election 
sermon,  and  he  improved  the  occasion  to  deliver  this  doctrine, 
that  a  magistrate  ought  not  to  be  turned  into  the  condition  of 
a  private  man,  without  just  cause  and  on  publick  conviction, 
any  more  than  a  magistrate  may  turn  a  private  man  out  of  his 
freehold  without  publick  trial.  His  sermon,  however,  did  not 
have  the  effect  he  probably  intended ;  for  the  freemen  pro- 
ceeding forthwith  to  vote  for  a  Governour  and  Deputy,  Mr. 
Winthrop  was  left  out,  Mr.  Dudley  chosen  in  his  place,  and 
Mr.  Roger  Ludlow  elected  Deputy.  A  consequence  of  this 
change  was  that  Newtown  became  the  seat  of  government  for 
the  year  ensuing. 


*  TinVMr.  Firmin's  son  Giles  practised  physick  at  Ipswich  and  afterwards  returned  to 
England. 

t  Emerson's  Hist.  First  Church. 

t  This  is  the  earliest  notice  of  the  Thursday  lectures  in  the  Journal,  but  an  order  of  court, 
passed  in  October  1633,  regulating  the  hours  at  which  lectures  should  be  held  (1.  P.  M.) 
shows  that  they  had  been  earlier  established. 


HISTORY    OF   EOSTOJV.  55 

In  the  course  of  the  fall,  a  little  affair  occurred  which  serves 
to  show  us  somewhat  of  the  spirit  of  the  times.  Some  of  the 
people  had  been  abused  and  insulted  on  board  a  vessel  in  the 
harbour,  and  it  was  thought  best  not  to  suffer  the  insult  to 
pass  unnoticed.  The  power  of  the  government  and  the  ad- 
vice of  the  ministers  was  put  in  requisition,  and  the  supercar- 
go of  the  ship  being  on  shore  was  summarily  seized,  and 
committed  to  custody  till  he  gave  bail  that  the  offender  should 
be  forthcoming.  Upon  examination,  not  much  could  be  made 
of  the  matter,  and  the  bail  was  discharged  with  advice  to  the 
master  not  to  bring  any  such  disorderly  persons  this  way 
again. 

It  will  hardly  be  credited,  yet  it  is  true  that  so  early  as  the 
period  of  which  we  are  treating,  Mr.  Cotton  found  it  necessary 
to  exert  his  influence  to  suppress  superfluous  and  unnecessarily 
expensive  fashions.  The  court  in  September  of  this  year 
made  a  law,  that  tobacco  should  not  be  taken  in  company,  or 
before  strangers,  and  condemned  to  disuse  a  great  variety  of 
articles  of  dress.  Gold  or  silver  laces,  girdles,  or  hat-bands, 
embroidered  caps,  immoderate  great  veils  and  immoderate 
great  sleeves  incurred  special  disapprobation.  Such  things 
were  all  subject  to  forfeiture,  with  an  exception  that  some  of 
the  articles  already  in  use  might  be  worn  out.  But  a  sermon 
of  Mr.  Cotton's  at  Salem  had,  as  powerful  an  effect  as  the  fear 
of  the  law.  He  taught  the  women  there,  that  they  had  no 
occasion  to  wear  the  veil,  in  compliance  with  any  scriptural 
direction,  and  they  were  so  enlightened  and  convinced  by  his 
discourse,  that  every  woman  in  the  afternoon  appeared  without 
her  veil,  and  ever  after  considered  it  a  shame  to  wear  one. 
Mr.Cotton  had  before  urged  the  same  doctrine  at  Boston  ;  we 
may  safely  add,  with  like  success.* 

We  have  now  reached  the  date  of  the  oldest  volume  of  the 
town  records,  that  remains  extant.  The  first  page  comment 
ces  with  the  doings  of  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month,t 
1634.  This  entry,  and  those  made  for  a  short  time  after, 
appear  in  the  handwriting  of  Gov.  Winthrop  ;  a  circumstance 
which  makes  us  regret  the  more,  that  the  records  of  the  four 
first  years  should  have  been  lost.  We  are  thus  left  without 
direct  information  of  the  course  pursued  in  regard  to  the  di- 
vision of  land  among  the  settlers,  and  of  other  steps  they 
must  have  taken  to  bring  their  affairs  into  so  good  order  as 
we  find  them  in,  at  this  period. 

It  is  apparent  from  this  first  record  that  the  manage- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  town  had  been  committed  to  a  select 
body  of  men.  The  number  at  this  period  was  ten,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  following  extract: 

*  Winthrop,  March  4,  1634.    Hubbard,  N.  E.  205. 

!  Equivalent  to  September;  March  being  considered  the  first  month. 


36  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

'  Month  8th,  day  6th.  At  a  general  meeting  upon  publick 
notice  given  the  fifth  day  of  the  last  week  it  was  ordered  and 
agreed  as  follows : 

'  Imprimis.  Richard  Bellingham,  Esquire,  and  J.  Cogan, 
merchant,  were  chosen  in  the  place  of  Giles  Firmin  [senior] 
deceased,  to  make  up  the  number  10,  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
the  town.' 

The  persons  thus  chosen  are  not  distinguished  by  the  ap- 
pellation of  Selectmen,  till  the  year  sixteen  hundred  and  forty 
five:  they  were  sometimes  called  Townsmen.  Dorchester 
chose  such  a  body  in  1633,  for  the  first  time:  it  is  probable 
that  the  measure  had  been  previously  adopted  in  Boston  : 
Charlestown  did  not  choose  them  till  1634.  The  courts  of  the 
colony  had  made  no  provision  for  any  such  form  of  town  gov- 
ernment. It  is  not  till  May  3d.  1636,  that  we  find  an  order 
to  the  following  eifect : — The  freemen  of  every  town  are  em- 
powered to  dispose  of  lands,  grant  lots  and  make  such  orders 
as  may  concern  the  well  ordering  of  their  town,  not  repugnant 
to  laws  of  court  or  kingdom;  also  to  lay  fines  not  exceeding 
twenty  shillings,  appoint  officers,  constables  and  surveyors. — 
It  is  clear  that  the  town  of  Boston  exercised  all  this  authority 
long  before  the  passing  of  this  order.  The  course  had  proba- 
bly been  adopted  by  common  consent,  and  some  event  may 
have  occurred,  which  rendered  it  necessary  to  give  the  sanc- 
tion of  court  to  the  procedure. 

The  names  of  the  first  board  of  Selectmen  on  record  are 
John  Winthrop  Giles  Firmin  [sen.] 

William  Coddington  John  Coggeshall 

Capt.'[John]  Underhill         William  Pierce 
Thomas  Oliver  Robert  Harding 

Thomas  Leverett  William  Brenton. 

It  was  customary  for  the  inhabitants  to  meet  to  transact 
business  relative  to  the  police  of  the  town  immediately  after 
the  Thursday  lecture.  On  the  1 1th  of  December  they  met  to 
choose  seven  men  who  should  divide  the  town  lands  among 
them.  They  chose  by  ballot  and  elected  all  '  of  the  inferior 
sort'  except  one  of  the  elders  and  a  deacon.  This  was  done 
through  fear  that  the  richer  gentlemen  would  not  give  the 
poorer  class  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  land  as  they  thought 
should  be  allotted  to  them,  but  would  rather  leave  a  greater 
part  at  liberty  for  new  comers  and  for  Common,  which  Gov. 
Winthrop  had  often  persuaded  them  was  best  for  the  town. 
Mr.  Cotton  and  others  were  offended  at  this  proceeding. 
Mr.  Winthrop  expressed  his  regret  that  Boston  should  be  the 
first  to  shake  off  her  magistrates  ;  whereupon,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Cotton,  who  showed  them  that  it  was  scriptural  to  have 
all  such  business  committed  to  the  elders,  they  all  agreed  to 
have  a  new  election,  which  was  deferred  to  the  next  lecture  day. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  57 

The  town  records  are  silent  as  to  the  names  of  the  first 
*  inferior  sort  :'  those  who  were  chosen  at  the  second  meet- 
ing, December  18th,  1634,  were, 

Mr.  Winthrop,  Mr.  Colburn, 

Mr.  Coddington,  Mr.  Cotton, 

Mr.  Oliver,  and 

Mr.  Bellingham,  William  Balston. 

The  jealousy,  manifested  by  the  people  on  this  occasion,  was 
natural,  and  the  exhibition  of  their  power  may  have  been 
politick  and  prudent  :  their  submission  to  the  arguments  of 
Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Winthrop  was  reasonable,  and  evinces  a 
character,  of  which  their  posterity  may  without  vanity  be 
proud. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

These  drew  not  for  their  fields  the  sword 
Like  tenants  of  a  feudal  lord. 

Scoit. 

This  committee  was  empowered  '  to  divide  and  dispose  of 
all  such  lands,  belonging  to  the  town,  as  are  not  yet  in  the 
lawful  possession  of  any  particular  person,  according  to  the 
orders  of  the  court,  leaving  such  portions  in  common,  for  the 
use  of  new  comers,  and  the  further  benefit  of  the  town,  as  in 
their  best  discretion  they  shall  think  fit — the  islands  hired  by 
the  town  to  be  also  included  in  this  order.'  On  the  ninth  of 
February  following,  '  it  is  agreed  by  general  consent,  that  all 
the  inhabitants  shall  plant  only  upon  such  ground  as  is  al- 
ready broken  up,  or  inclosed,  in  the  neck,*  or  else  upon  the 
ground  at  Noddle's  Island  from  Mr.  Maverick's  grant,  and 
that  every  able  man,  Jit  to  plant,  shall  have  allotved  to  him  two 
acres  to  plant  on,  and  every  able  youth  one  acre,  to  be  allotted 
out  by  Mr.  Hutchinson,  Mr.  Cogan,  Mr.  Sampford,  and  Wil- 
liam Cheeseborough,  and  Mr.  Brenton,  or  any  three  of  them.' 
Neither  of  these,  it  will  be  perceived,  were  on  the  former 
committee  :  their  duties  were  different,  the  one  regarding 
chiefly  the  lands  within  the  peninsula,  the  other  having  refer- 


*  Those  who  have  occasion  to  search  the  early  records  of  the  town,  should  know,  that 
sometimes  the  whole  peninsula  was  called  the  Neck  ;  sometimes  that  part  only,  which  con- 
nects Boston  with  Roxbury  ;  and  sometimes  they  will  meet  with  the  expression,  within  the 
Neck,  (and  the  two  Necks,  and  the  inward  Neck.)  These  distinctions  are  to  be  particularly 
observed  in  tracing  the  original  titles  of  the  allotments. — Shaw. 


58  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

ence  to  the  lands  at  Muddy  river,  Pullin  point,  and  other  pla- 
ces assigned  to  Boston  people  for  their  improvement. 

What  special  care  they  took  to  preserve  themselves  a  pe- 
culiar people,  will  appear  from  the  record  of  the  30th  No- 
vember, 1635.  '  It  is  agreed,  that  no  further  allotments  shall 
be  granted  unto  any  new  comers,  but  such  as  may  be  likely 
to  be  received  members  of  the  congregation. — Item,  that  none 
shall  sell  their  houses  or  allotments  to  any  new  comers,  but 
with  the  consent  and  allowance  of  those  that  are  appointed 
allotters. — Item,  that  all  such  as  have  allotments  for  habitation 
allotted  unto  them  shall  build  thereon,  before  the  first  of  the 
first  month  next,  called  March,  or  else  it  shall  be  in  the  power 
of  the  allotters  to  dispose  of  them.'  Several  instances  occur- 
red in  which  these  orders  were  faithfully  executed :  fines 
were  inflicted  on  some  who  ventured  to  bargain  for  lands 
without  permission,  and  sales  were  declared  void.  Those  who 
failed  to  build  were  compelled  to  offer   satisfactory   excuse.* 

Four  days  after  the  passing  of  the  above  order,  it  was 
further  agreed  '  that  in  regard  of  the  unequal  disposing  of  the 
planting  ground  heretofore,  none  shall  be  accounted  to  have 
any  estate  of  inheritance  in  any  planting  ground  upon  the 
neck  save  only  in  their  house  plots,  gardens,  and  yards,  until 
the  town  shall  take  order  for  a  more  equal  disposing  thereof 
by  distribution.  And  on  the  14th  of  December,  ten  days 
after  the  last,  it  is  agreed  by  general  consent,  that  the  poorer 
sort  of  inhabitants,  such  as  are  members,  or  likely  so  to  be, 
and  have  no  cattle,  shall  have  their  proportion  of  allotments 
for  planting  ground  and  other  assigned  unto  them  by  the  al- 
lotters, and  laid  out  at  Muddy  river  by  the  aforenamed  five 
persons,  [viz.  Messrs.  Colburn,  Aspinwall,  Sampford,  Balston, 
and  Richard  Wright]  or  four  of  them — those  that  fall  between 
the  foot  of  the  hill  and  the  water,  to  have  but  four  acres  upon 
a  head,  and  those  that  are  farther  off  to  have  five  acres  for 
every  head,  the  plot  to  begin  next  Muddy  river  side.' 

Conformably  to  the  preceding  orders  a  distribution  was 
declared  on  the  3th  of  January  1638.  The  names  of  the 
heads  of  families  are  recorded  and  the  quantity  of  land  allot- 
ted to  each,  with  the  boundaries  of  the  same.  The  number 
of  families  of '  the  poorer  sort'  provided  for,   was   eighty-six, 


*  Town  Records,  June  6,  1636.  '  We  find  that  Richard  Fairbank  hath  sold  unto  two 
strangers  the  two  houses  in  Sudbury  end,  that  were  Wm.  Balston's,  contrary  to  a  former  or- 
der, and  therefore  the  sale  to  be  wrong-,  and  the  said  R.  F.  to  forfeit  for  his  breaking  thereof 
!ive  pounds. 

March  30,  1641.  Notice  shall  be  given  by  the  constables  unto  such  as  have  not  built  upon 
their  house?  lots,  which  have  been  set  out  to  them  above  a  year,  that  they  come  to  the  next 
meeting  to  show  cause  why  their  lots  should  not  be  granted  to  others,  according  to  the  orig- 
inal grant ;  and  if  they  come  not.  that  then  the  town  will  dispose  of  them. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  59 

and  the  number  of  heads  337.  Besides  these,  allotments 
were  assigned  to  thirty  other  families,  such  as  Gov.  Win- 
throp's,  Mr.  Wilson's,  Mr.  Cotton's,  Mr.  Robert  Keayne's  and 
other  principal  persons,  some  of  whom  had  upwards  of  300 
acres  apiece. 

On  the  tenth  of  January  1642,  it  was  found  necessary  to 
adopt  the  following  vote.  '  Notwithstanding  the  order  made 
concerning  the  disposing  of  land  in  this  neck,  on  the  fourth  of 
the  tenth,  sixteen  hundred  thirty-five,  yet  for  peace  sake  and 
for  avoiding  of  confusion  in  the  town,  many  lands  having 
been  bought  and  sold  at  dear  rates,  the  rights  of  all  lands 
disposed  of,  shall  belong  to  the  present  owners  as  they  should 
have  done,  if  the  former  order  had  never  been,  and  the  said 
former  order  is  hereby  repealed.  Provided,  that  this  order 
shall  not  concern  such  marsh  ground  as  hath  been  let  from 
year  to  year.' 

Under  date  of  March  4th  ensuing  we  find  another  record 
on  this  subject,  when  it  is  ordered  that  the  residue  of  the 
town's  lands,  not  yet  disposed  of  (excepting  those  that  are 
laid  out  for  commons  at  Boston,  Braintree,  and  Muddy  River) 
shall  be  divided  amongst  the  present  inhabitants,  together 
with  such  as  shall  be  admitted  within  two  months  now  next 
following,  and  that  in  this  manner,  viz.  a  greater  proportion 
to  them  that  have  had  less  than  their  due,  and  the  less  to 
them  that  have  had  more,  and  proportionally  to  them  that 
have  had  none,  and  this  is  to  be  done  by  the  Selectmen, 
chosen  for  the  town's  business.  Finally  on  the  7th  Sept. 
1645,  we  have  this  important  entry;  'whereas  the  several 
grants  of  house  lots  and  other  lands,  recorded  in  this  town 
book,  are  entered  only  as  granted  to  the  proprietors  them- 
selves, without  mention  of  their  heirs,  it  has  been  thought  fit 
to  be  hereby  declared  and  ordered,  that  all  such  grants  were 
and  shall  be  intended  to  be  estates  in  fee  simple,  with 
all  due  and  usual  privileges  and  appurtenances,  and  are  to 
be  so  construed  and  taken,  to  all  intents,  except  in  such  ca- 
ses wherein  any  particular  estate  for  term  of  years  is  spe- 
cially expressed.' 

The  foregoing  citations  present  all  our  direct  information 
of  the  course  pursued,  in  regard  to  the  division  of  land  among 
the  settlers  at  Boston.  All  the  lands  in  the  colony  had  be- 
come the  property  of  the  company  by  their  charter,  and 
Hubbard  informs  us,  that  at  a  court  in  May  1629,  it  was 
agreed,  that  every  adventurer  w ho  had  advanced  fifty  pounds 
should  have  200  acres  of  land  allowed  him  ;  and  that  50 
acres  apiece  should  be  allowed  those,  that  went  over  at  their 
own  charge.  This  may  account  for  some  of  the  great  lots 
we  have  mentioned.  In  the  settlement  of  Salem,  at  first,  the 
smallest  families  were  entitled  to  ten-acre  lots,  with  a  reserve 


60  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

of  such  common  lands  for  pasture,  as  might  accommodate 
them,  near  their  own  houses.*  Johnson,  in  his  account  of 
Woburn,  gives  us  a  more  particular  account  of  '  the  manner 
how  this  people  have  populated  their  towns,'  than  we  have 
discovered  elsewhere.  '  This  town,  as  all  others,''  saith  he, 
'  had  its  bounds  fixed  by  the  General  Court,  to  the  contents 
of  four  miles  square  :  the  grant  is  to  seven  men  of  good  and 
honest  report,  upon  condition,  that,  within  two  years,  they 
erect  houses  thereon,  and  so  go  on  to  make  a  town  thereof 
upon  the  Act  of  Court.  These  seven  men  have  power  to 
give  and  grant  out  lands  unto  any  persons,  who  are  willing  to 
take  up  their  dwellings  within  the  said  precinct,  and  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  all  common  privileges  of  the  said  town,  giving  them 
such  an  ample  portion,  both  of  meadow  and  upland,  as  their 
present  and  future  stock  of  cattle  and  hands  were  like  to  im- 
prove, with  eye  had  to  others,  that  might  after  come  to  popu- 
late the  said  town.  This  they  did  without  any  respect  of 
persons  ;  yet  such  as  were  exorbitant,  and  of  a  turbulent 
spirit,  unfit  for  a  civil  society,  they  would  reject  :  till  they 
come  to  mend  their  manners,  such  came  not  to  enjoj'  any 
freehold.  These  seven  men  ordered  and  disposed  of  the 
streets  of  the  town,  as  might  be  best  for  the  improvement  of 
the  land,  and  that  civil  and  religious  society  maintained.  To 
which  end,  those  that  had  land  nearest  the  place  for  Sabbath 
assembly,  had  a  lesser  quantity  at  home  and  more  farther  off, 
to  improve  for  corn  of  all  kinds.  They  refused  not  men  for 
their  poverty,  but  according  to  their  ability  were  helpful  to 
the  poorest  sort,  in  building  their  houses,  and  distributed  to 
them  land  accordingly  :  the  poorest  had  six  or  seven  acres  of 
meadow  and  twenty-Jive  of  upland  or  thereabouts.  Thus  was 
this  town  populated,  and  after  this  manner  are  the  towns  of 
New  England  peopled.' 
~-X  That  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  were  equally  careful  as  to 
the  character  of  those  they  received  among  them,  as  were  the 
people  of  Woburn,  we  have  already  seen,  and  they  continued 
to  be  so  for  a  series  of  years.  At  a  Selectmen's  meetingT 
January,  1637,  '  it  was  agreed  that  Widow  Bushnell,  George 
Harwood,  and  John  Low,  the  wheelwright,  shall  have  house 
lots  and  gardens  upon  the  usual  cmidition  of  inoffensive  carriage. 
In  1652,  Feb.  Richard  Woody  is  admitted  an  inhabitant  on 
condition  he  shall  not  be  offensive  by  his  trade.  August,  1657, 
John  Pierce  is  admitted  an  inhabitant  upon  the  testimony  of 
James  Everill  and  Isaac  Collamore.  Care  was  also  taken, 
to  secure  the  town  from  charge  on  account  of  new  comers, 
and  bonds  were  required  to  that  effect,  before  leave  to  reside 

*  Hubbard,  N.  E.  123.— Mass.  H,  C.  1.  vi.  232.— W.  W.P.  ch.  xxii.     See  also  Hntch.  coll. 
of  papers,  p.  88.  91. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  61 

here  could  be  obtained.  This  practice  commenced  as  early 
as  1652,  and  the  bonds  are  recorded  in  this  stile,  sc.  '  Marga- 
ret Norris,  an  Irishwoman  is  admitted  into  the  town,  and 
David  Faulkoner  is  bound  to  secure  the  town  from  any  charge 
as  respecting  her,  in  a  bond  of  seven  pounds.   Witness  his  hand 

Marl 

Hatoft  d.  f.  jfaulftoucr. 

26th,  of  5th.  1658.' 

One  of  the  privileges  of  being  admitted  an  inhabitant  was 
the  right  to  improve  the  common  lands,  which  so  far  as  we 
can  learn  appear  to  have  been  reserved  in  every  town.  Prior 
to  1640  mention  is  frequently  made  of  town  fields,  in  the 
Boston  records,  and  they  seem  to  have  been  inclosed  by  gen- 
eral fence.  Thus,  in  Feb.  1635  we  read,  '  all  the  fences  are 
to  be  made  sufficient  by  the  seventh  of  the  second  month,  and 
they  to  be  looked  unto  by  our  brother  Grubb  and  Hudson 
for  the  new  field  ;  brother  Penniman  and  brother  Colburn  for 
the  field  by  him,  and  by  brother  Penn  and  brother  Belcher 
for  the  fort-field ;  brother  Matson  and  brother  Everill  at  the 
mill-field.'' 

Again,  March  1,  1636.  All  the  fences  belonging  to  the 
town  fields  are  to  be  overseen  and  looked  unto  thus,  '  the  field 
towards  Roxbury  by  Jacob  Eliot  and  Jonathan  Neegoose ; 
the  fort  field  by  James  Penn  and  Richard  Gridley  ;  the  mill 
field  by  John  Button  and  Edward  Bendall,  and  the  new  field 
by  John  Audley  and  Thomas  Fairweather.'  In  June, '  a  suf- 
ficient footway  is  ordered  to  be  made  from  W.  Colburn' s  field 
and  unto  Samuel  Wilbour's  field  next  Roxbury,  by  the  sur- 
veyors of  high  ways.' 

Of  the  abovenamed  fields  that  next  to  Roxbury*  comprised 
what  we  at  present  call  the  neck ;  the  fort  field  that  portion 
of  the  town  lying  round  about  Fort  hill  :  the  mill  field  was  at 
the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  was  so  called  from  the  wind- 
mill, which  stood  on  what  is  at  present  called  Copp's  hill:  the 
new  field  was  that  purchased  of  Mr.  Blackstone,  and  included 
the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  General  Hospital  ;*  out  of  all 
these,  lots  were  from  time  to  time  granted  to  individuals. 
The  field  by  Mr.  Colburn  contained  the  greater  part!  of  the 
present  Common,  and  probably  extended  at  that  time  as  far 
as  Beacon  street. 


*  See  town  records  Dec.  26,  1642,  and  Oct.  28,  1639. 

t  On  the  6th  October  1737  Wm.  Foster  conveyed  to  the  town  of  Boston  "a  certain  tract  of 
land  containing  two  acres  and  one  eighth  of  an  acre  situated  lying  and  being  near  the  Com- 
mon and  bounded  E.  on  the  highway,  324  ft.  North  on  the  Common  295  ft.  5  in.  W.  on 
the  new  burial  ground,  302  ft.  3  in.  S.  on  Pleasant  St.  231  ft.  9  inches,"  which  maUes  the 
Southeast  corner  of  the  present  Common. 


62  HISTORY    OV   BOSTON.' 

Respecting  this  the  following  vote  was  passed  on  the  30tli 
of  March  1640,  '  Henceforth  there  shall  be  no  land  granted 
either  for  house  plot  or  garden  to  any  person,  out  of  the  open 
ground  or  common  field,  which  is  left  between  the  Sentry  hill 
and  Mr.  Colburn's  end,  except  three  or  four  lots  to  make  up 
the  street  from  brother  Robert  Walker's  to  the  round  marsh.' 
This  vote  was  followed  in  May,  1646,  by  these,  l.~ It  is  grant- 
ed that  all  the  inhabitants  shall  have  equal  right  of  com- 
monage in  the  town  :  those  who  are  admitted  by  the  town 
are  to  be  inhabitants.  2. — It  is  ordered  that  all  who  shall  after 
the  date  hereof,  come  to  be  an  inhabitant  in  the  town  of  Bos- 
ton shall  not  have  right  of  commonage,  unless  he  hire  it  of 
them  that  are  commoners.  3. — There  shall  be  kept  out  of 
the  Common  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  but  seventy 
milch  kine.  4. — No  dry  cattle,  young  cattle,  or  horse,  shall 
be  free  to  go  on  the  common  this  year,  but  one  horse  of  Elder 
Oliver.  5. — No  inhabitant  shall  sell  his  right  of  commonage, 
but  may  only  let  it  out  to  hire  from  year  to  year.  6. — No 
common  marsh  or  pasture  ground  shall  hereafter,  by  gift  or 
sale,  exchange  or  otherwise,  be  counted  unto  propriety,  with- 
out consent  of  the  major  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.' 

Thus  stood  the  subject  of  the  Common  until  May  1660, 
when  '  upon  motion  of  some  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  the 
General  Court  ordered,  that  the  selectmen  of  the  town  from 
time  to  time  shall,  and  are  hereby  empowered  to  order  the 
improvement  and  feeding  of  their  commons,  within  the  neck 
of  land,  by  such  cattle  as  they  shall  deem  meet,  any  law, 
usage,  or  custom  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.' 

It  seemed  expedient  to  throw  these  materials  together  in 
this  place,  in  order  that  the  reader  might  acquire  some  idea 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  town  and  individuals  obtained 
their  title  to  their  several  estates.  We  leave  the  after  history 
of  the  Common  to  be  introduced  in  another  place. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    ITEMS. 
Continued  from  p.  40. 

1632.  July.  The  congregation,  i.  e.  the  church  at  Boston 
wrote  to  the  elders  and  brethren  of  the  other  churches  for 
their  advice  on  these  questions,  to  wit,  whether  one  person 
might  be  a  civil  magistrate  and  a  ruling  elder  at  the  same 
time  ?  if  not,  then  which  should  he  lay  down  ?  and  whether 
there  might  be  divers  pastors  in  the  same  church  ?  The  first 
was  agreed  by  all  negatively  ;  the  second,  doubtful  ;  the 
third,  doubtful  also.      In   consequence  of  this  decision,  Mr. 


H1ST0KY    OF   BOSTON.  63 

Nowell,  who  was  then  an  Elder  in  the  Boston  church,  relin- 
quished that  office  and  devoted  himself  to  the  duties  of  a  ci- 
vilian. 

Aug.  20.  Gov.  Winthrop  has  a  son  born,  who  is  baptized 
by  the  name  of  William.  The  Governour  himself  held  the 
child,  as  others  in  the  congregation  did  use.  William  (saith 
he)  signifies  a  common  man.* 

Sept.  4.  Court  at  Boston.  Order  a  man  to  be  severely 
whipt  for  cursing,  swearing,  justifying  the  same,  and  glorying 
in  it. 

Oct.  3.  Every  one  shall  pay  a  penny  sterling  for  every 
time  of  taking  tobacco  in  any  place. 

18.  Capt.  Camock  and  Mr.  Vesy,  a  merchant  from  Pisca- 
taqua,  bring  sixteen  hogsheads  of  corn  to  the  windmill  at 
Boston. 

1633.  March  4.  Roxbury,  Watertown,  and  Newtown  are 
assessed  six  pounds,  and  Boston  only  five  pounds,  of  a  tax 
of  £30. 

The  first  notorious  thief  in  Massachusetts  is  censured  thus  ; 
-all  his  estate  forfeited  ;  out  of  which  double  restitution  shall 
be  made  to  those  whom  he  hath  wronged  ;  shall  be  whipt, 
and  bound  as  a  servant  to  any  that  will  retain  him  for  three 
years,  and  after  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  court,  as  they  shall 
think  meet. 

May.  We  had  sent  forth  a  pinnace  after  the  pirate  Dixey 
Bull,  but  when  she  had  been  gone  two  weeks,  she  came 
home,  having  not  found  him. 

Aug.     220  persons  had  joined  Boston  church  :  men  130. 

Sept.  Every  hand,  except  magistrates  and  ministers,  is  to 
assist  in  finishing  the  fort  at  Boston. 

Mr.  Cotton  desired  baptism  for  his  son,  born  on  their  pas- 
sage, whom  he  therefore  named  Seaborn. 

Oct.  2.  The  bark  Blessing  which  had  been  sent  to  the 
Southward  returned  :  she  had  been  at  Long  Island. 

Nov.  A  small  ship  of  about  sixty  tons  was  built  at  Med- 
ford  and  called  the  Rebecca. 

Mr.  Wilson,  by  leave  of  the  congregation  of  Boston,  went  to 
Agawam  (Ipswich)  to  teach  the  people  of  that  plantation. 

Chicatabot  dies,  and  many  of  his  people.  This  chief  used 
frequently  to  come  to  Boston,  and  was  on  very  friendly  terms 
with  Gov.  Winthrop.  At  one  time  he  came  with  his  sannops 
and  squaws,  and  presented  the  governour  with  a  bushel  of 
corn.     After   taking  some  refreshments,   and  having  each  a 


*  Journal.  Prince,  under  date  Oct.  29,  1630,  says,  '  The  first  recorded  as  baptized  in  the 
Boston  church  are  said  to  be  baptized  in  said  church  in  this  month,  and  are  only  three, 
iiamely,  Joy  and  Recompencz,  daughters  of  .Br.  John  Milles  ;  and  Pitie,  aaughter  of  onr 
'brother  Win.  Baulstone. 


64  HISTORY    OF   BOSTOff. 

cup  of  sack,  with  a  taste  of  tobacco,  he  ordered  the  whole 
party  away  in  a  thunder  storm.  Only  himself  with  one 
squaw  and  sannop  staid  over  night,  and  the  Governour  allow- 
ed him  to  sit  at  his  table,  where  he  behaved  himself  as  sober- 
ly as  an  Englishman.  He  sometimes  wore  English  clothes, 
and  as  his  best  dress  had  become  rather  the  worse  for  age, 
he  applied  to  the  Governour,  in  honest  simplicity,  to  sell  him 
a  suit.  The  Governour,  assuming  the  dignity  of  his  office, 
told  hitn  that  English  sagamores  did  not  use  to  truck;  and 
calling  his  tailor  he  ordered  him  to  make  a  full  suit  for  Chica- 
tabot.  They  were  to  be  ready  in  three  days,  and  he  engag- 
ed to  come  for  them  :  but  as  he  had  no  wish  to  be  under  an 
obligation,  he  left  two  good  skins  of  beaver  as  a  present  for 
the  Governour.  He  returned  at  the  time  appointed,  and  his 
regimentals  were  in  readiness.  They  suited  him  finely  and 
he  was  mightily  pleased.  The  Governour  complimented  him 
farther  with  a  collation,  '  but  he  would  not  eat  till  the  Gover- 
nour had  given  thanks,  and  after  meal  he  desired  him  to  do 
the  like,  and  so  departed.'  In  this  he  exhibited  more  polite- 
ness than  some  of  his  brother  chiefs,  who  while  on  a  visit  here 
were  invited  to  attend  a  sermon  ;  for  they  got  weary  of  the 
service,  and  went  out  and  broke  into  a  neighbouring  house, 
and  without  ceremony  satisfied  their  hungry  appetites  with 
the  best  they  could  find. 

This  year  a  water  mill  was  built  at  Roxbury. 

1634.  March.  Boston  and  Roxbury  disagree  about  their 
bounds.  . 

4.  A  man  that  had  often  been  punished  for  drunkenness,  is 
now  ordered  to  wear  a  red  D  about  his  neck  for  a  year. 

There  was  stirred  up  a  spirit  of  jealousy  between  Mr. 
James  the  pastor  of  Charlestovvn  and  many  of  his  people,  so 
as  Mr.  Nowell,  and  some  others  who  had  been  dismissed 
from  Boston,  began  to  question  the  fact  of  breaking  from  Bos- 
ton, and  it  grew  to  such  a  scruple  of  conscience  among  them, 
that  the  advice  of  the  other  ministers  was  taken  in  it,  who 
after  two  meetings  could  not  agree  about  their  continuance  or 
return. 

April  3.  Gov.  Winthrop  went  on  foot  to  Agawam,  and 
because  the  people  there  wanted  for  a  minister,  spent  the 
sabbath  with  them,  and  exercised  by  way  of  prophecy. 

20.  John  Coggeshall,  gent,  being  dismissed  from  the  church 
of  Roxbury  to  Boston,  though  he  were  well  known  and  ap- 
proved, yet  was  not  received  but  by  confession  of  his  faith. 

May.  By  this  time  the  fort  at  Boston  was  in  defence,  and 
divers  pieces  of  ordnance  mounted  in  it. 

The  week  the  court  was,  there  arrived  six  ships  with  store 
of  passengers  and  cattle. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  65 

Nero,  The  Rebecca  came  from  Narraganset  with  500  bush- 
els of  corn. 

1635.  Jan.  13.  The  church  of  Boston  kept  a  day  of  hu- 
miliation, for  the  absence  of  their  pastor  and  other  brethren 
gone  to  England,  and  like  to  be  troubled  and  detained  there, 
and  for  that  the  Lord  had  made  a  breach  upon  them  (by  the 
drowning  of  two  men  and  two  boys  a  short  time  previous.) 
Mr.  Cotton  preached  out  of  Numbers  xxxv.  13,  and  one  of 
the  members  taught  from  these  words.  Wherefore  doth  a  living 
man  complain  ? 

March  23.  Whereas  the  wood  upon  the  neck  of  land 
toward  Roxbury  gate,  this  last  winter,  hath  been  disorderly 
cut  off  and  wasted,  whereby  the  poor  inhabitants  are  disap- 
pointed of  relief  they  might  have  had  there,  in  after  and 
needful  times,  now  it  is  generally  agreed  that  Mr.  Treasurer 
[Coddington],  Mr.  Bellingham,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Hutchinson, 
with  the  three  deacons,  shall  consider  who  have  been  faulty 
herein,  and  set  down  what  restitution  of  wood  unto  the  poor 
such  shall  make,  according  to  their  several  proportions,  allot- 
ted by  the  major  part  of  these  six. 

6^7"  Item.  That  whosoever  at  any  publique  meeting  shall 
fall  into  any  private  conference  to  ye  hindring  of  ye  publique 
businesses,  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  offence  twelve  pence 
to  be  paid  into  ye  constable's  hand  for  publique  uses. 

May  6.  A  general  court  was  held  at  Newtown,  when  John 
Haynes,  Esq.  (of  Newtown)  was  chosen  Gov.  and  Richard 
Bellingham,  Esq.  (of  Boston)  Dep.  Gov.  The  Governour 
and  Deputy  were  elected  by  papers  wherein  their  names 
were  written,  but  the  Assistants  were  chosen  by  papers  with- 
out names  ;  thus  the  Governour  propounded  one  to  the  peo- 
ple, when  they  all  went  out,  and  came  in  at  one  door,  and 
every  man  delivered  a  paper  into  a  hat — such  as  voted  for 
the  party  named,  gave  in  a  paper  with  some  figure  or  scroll 
on  it,  others  gave  in  a  blank. 

A  beacon  is  to  be  set  on  the  Sentry  hill  at  Boston,  to  give 
notice  to  the  country  of  any  danger  ;  to  be  guarded  by  one 
man  stationed  near,  and  fired  as  occasion  may  be. 

Boston. differs  with  Dorchester  about  their  bounds  at  Mt. 
Wolaston,  and  with  Charlestown  concerning  Romney  Marsh. 
These  matters  are  considered  in  General  Court. 

Absence  from  church  meetings  on  the  Lord's  day  is  com- 
plained of,  and  the  subject  submitted  to  cognizance  of  two 
Assistants,  who  may  correct  offenders  at  discretion,  by  fine 
aot  to  exceed  10s.  or  by  imprisonment. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  here,  that  hitherto  the  punishments  in- 
flicted for  crimes  had  been  in  most  cases    ex  post  facto,   and 
some  of  them  pretty  severe,  putting  in  jeopardy  both  life  and 
9 


Q6  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

limb  :  branding  with  a  hot  iron,  and  clipping  off  the  ears 
were  very  common  things.  But  now  '  the  deputies  having 
conceived  greater  danger  to  our  state,  in  regard  that  our  ma- 
gistrates, for  want  of  positive  laws  in  many  cases,  might  pro- 
ceed according  to  their  discretions,  it  was  agreed  that  some 
men  should  be  appointed  to  frame  a  body  of  grounds  of  laws, 
in  resemblance  to  a  Magna  Charta,  which  being  allowed  by 
some  of  the  ministers  and  the  General  Court,  should  be  receiv- 
ed for  fundamental  laws.'  Messrs.  Cotton  and  Bellingham 
were  members  of  the  commission  for  this  important  purpose, 
and  had  the  greatest  share  in  the  work. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  My  father  was  as  brave  a  lord 
As  ever  Europe  might  afford  ; 
My  mother  was  a  lady  bright." 

On  the  sixth  of  October,  1635,  there  arrived  at  Boston 
two  ships,  the  Defence  and  the  Abigail.  Mr.  Wilson  the 
pastor  of  Boston  church  was  one  of  the  passengers,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Vane  was  another.  The  fame  acquired  by  the  latter 
in  the  course  of  his  life,  renders  his  character  and  history 
while  here  peculiarly  interesting.  Gov.  Winthrop  thus  intro- 
duces him  :  '  one  Mr.  Henry  Vane  (son  and  heir  to  Sir  Henry 
Vane,  comptroller  of  the  King's  house,)  a  young  gentleman 
of  excellent  parts,  who  had  been  employed  by  his  father, 
when  he  was  embassador,  in  foreign  affairs,  yet  being  called 
to  the  obedience  of  the  gospel,  forsook  the  honours  and  pre- 
ferment of  the  court  to  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in 
their  purity  here.  His  father,  being  very  averse  to  this  way, 
would  hardly  have  consented  to  his  coming  hither;  but  that 
on  acquainting  the  King  with  his  son's  disposition  and  desire, 
he  commanded  him  to  send  him  hither,  and  gave  him  license 
to  stay  three  years.' 

English  authors  represent  him  as  a  man  of  profound  dissim- 
ulation, and  of  quick  conception :  very  eloquent,  ready, 
sharp  and  weighty  in  his  expressions  :  of-a  pleasant  wit,  and 
great  understanding,  piercing  into  and  discerning  the  pur- 
poses of  other  men  with  wonderful  sagacity,  whilst  he  had 
himself  a  true  vultum  clausum,  such  a  singular  countenance 
that  no  man  could  guess  from  it  what  he  intended. 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  here,  Mr.  Vane  was  but  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  :    he  made  great  professions  of  religion, 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  67 

was  enthusiastick,  and  conformed  to  the  peculiar  scruples  of 
the  day.  The  people  of  Boston  very  soon  became  attached 
to  him.  He  was  admitted  into  the  church  on  the  first  of  No- 
vember, and  on  the  30th  of  that  month  we  find  his  name  in 
the  following  important  regulation,  adopted  in  a  general  town- 
meeting: 

'None  of  the  members  of  this  congregation,  or  inhabitants 
amongst  us,  shall  sue  one  another  at  the  law,  before  that  Mr. 
Henry  Vane  and  the  two  elders,  Mr.  Thomas  Oliver  and 
Thomas  Leverett,  have  had  the  hearing  and  deciding  of  the 
cause,  if  they  can.' 

It  does  not  appear  that  it  was  found  expedient  to  renew 
this  order,  in  any  future  year. 

The  next  notice  we  find  of  Mr.  Vane  is  that  he  united  with 
Hugh  Peters,  also  a  famous  man  afterwards,  in  endeavours  to 
procure  a  reconciliation  between  the  magistrates  and  some 
other  'persons  of  quality.'  There  was  not  indeed  any  pub- 
lick  or  notorious  disagreement  existing,  that  required  this 
interference,  but  there  was  evidently  some  alienation  of  affec- 
tion, and  the  result  of  it  had  been  that  factions  were  beginning 
to  rise  among  the  people,  some  adhering  more  to  Winthrop 
and  some  more  to  Dudley,  of  whom  the  former  was  thought 
to  be  too  lenient  and  the  latter  too  severe.  At  the  meeting 
now  procured  by  Vane  and  Peters,  explanations  were  made 
on  all  sides,  and  harmony  restored  on  terms  which  were  sat- 
isfactory to  all. 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  man  whom  the  people  of  Boston 
had  thought  worthy  of  their  highest  confidence,  and  who  had 
shown  so  good  a  faculty  at  regulating  magistrates  themselves, 
should  be  thought  worthy  to  be  himself  elected  to  some  office. 
Accordingly,  having  been  admitted  a  freeman  on  the  third  of 
March,  Mr.  Vane  was  at  the  next  Election,  in  May  1636, 
chosen  Governour  of  the  colony.*  Mr.  Winthrop  was  at  the 
same  time  chosen  Dep.  Governour.  On  this  occasion  Hutch- 
inson remarks,  that  Gov.  Haynes  who  seemed  to  stand  most 
in  the  way  of  Mr.  Winthrop  had  left  the  colony,  and  was  set- 
tled in  Connecticut ;  and  Mr.  Winthrop  would  have  had  a 
good  prospect  of  recovering  his  former  share  of  the  people's 
regard,  if  Mr.  Vane's  solemn,  grave  deportment  had  not  en- 
gaged almost  the  whole  colony  in  his  favour. 

Gov.  Vane  had  great  respect  shown  to  him  at  first,  and 
took  more  state  upon  him  than  any  Governour  had  ever  done 
before.  ('  Because  he  was  son  and  heir  to  a  privy  counsellor 
in  England')  the  ships  in  the  harbour,  which  were  15  in  num- 
ber, congratulated  his  election  with  a  salute  ;    and    the    next 

*  Roger  Williams  had  previously  to  this  received  sentence  of  banishment,    on    account  of 
his  sentiments,  and  left  this  jurisdiction  in  January  1636.. 


68  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

week  he  invited  all  the  masters  to  dinner.  This  was  the  first 
entertainment  of  the  kind  in  Boston.  Mr.  Vane  took  advan- 
tage of  the  good  feelings  occasioned,  and  brought  the  cap- 
tains to  enter  into  some  engagements  respecting  their  trade 
and  conduct  here,  which  promised  much  utility,  but  which 
were  never  effectually  carried  into  execution.  His  adminis- 
tration for  several  months  met  with  much  applause,  but 
towards  the  end  of  the  year  the  people  grew  discontented  and 
he  perceived  it,  and  grew  weary  of  the  government.  He 
received  letters  from  his  friends  in  London  urging  his  return 
home:  Messrs.  Winthrop  and  Dudley,  to  whom  as  members 
with  himself  of  the  standing  council  he  first  communicated, 
them,  were  agreed  that  the  occasion  would  justify  his  compli- 
ance with  the  request.  He  therefore  called  a  meeting  of  the 
general  court,  and  made  known  to  them  the  necessity  there 
was  for  his  departure,  and  of  course  for  his  quitting  the  ad- 
ministration. The  court  took  time  till  the  next  morning  to 
consider  the  subject,  and  when  they  met,  one  of  the  Assist- 
ants so  pathetically  lamented  the  loss  of  such  a  governour,  at 
a  period  of  so  much  danger,  both  from  the  French  and  the 
Indians,  that  Mr.  Vane  burst  into  tears,  and  avowed,  that 
notwithstanding  the  occasion  on  which  he  proposed  to  leave 
the  country  involved  the  utter  ruin  of  his  estate  in  England, 
he  would  yet  have  hazarded  all  that,  rather  than  have  left 
them  at  such  a  crisis,  if  other  things  had  not  pressed  him  more. 
He  alluded  to  the  inevitable  danger  of  the  judgments  which 
he  feared  were  coming  upon  them,  for  the  differences  and 
dissensions  which  he  saw  among  them,  and  the  scandalous 
imputations  brought  upon  himself,  as  if  he  were  the  cause  of 
all:  therefore  he  thought  it  was  best  for  him  to  give  place  for 
a  time.  The  addition  of  the  last  reasons  displeased  the 
court,  but  upon  his  acknowledgment,  that  the  expression  of 
them  slipped  from  him  out  of  passion,  the  court  silently  con- 
sented to  his  departure.  But  some  of  the  church  of  Boston, 
being  loth  to  part  with  the  Governour,  had  a  meeting  and 
agreed  that  they  did  not  apprehend  the  necessity  of  the  Gov- 
ernour's  leaving,  for  the  reasons  alleged,  and  sent  some  of 
their  number  to  signify  as  much  to  the  court.  The  Govern- 
our thereupon  expressed  himself  to  be  an  obedient  child  of  the 
church,  and  therefore,  notwithstanding  the  license  of  the 
court,  he  durst  not  go  away  contrary  to  her  expressed  will. 

The  differences  and  dissensions  to  which  the  Governour 
referred,  originated  in  the  Boston  church,  which  it  will  be 
recollected  at  that  time  composed  the  great  body  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  town.  The  members  of  the  church  had  been  ac- 
customed to  meet  once  a  week,  to  repeat  the  sermons  they 
had  heard  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  debate  upon  the  doc- 
trines that  had  been  delivered.     These   meetings  being  pecu- 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  09 

liar  to  the  men,  at  least  none  of  the  other  sex  being  allowed 
to  take  part  in  the  debates,  some  of  the  zealous  women 
thought  it  might  be  useful  for  them  to  have  such  meetings 
among  themselves.  Accordingly,  Mrs.  Ann,  wife  of  Mr. 
William  Hutchinson,  a  woman  of  a  bold  and  masculine  spirit, 
of  ready  talents  and  great  flow  of  speech,  established  one  at 
her  house. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  was  a  man  of  fair  estate  and  sustained  a 
good  reputation  in  England.  His  wife,  as  Mr.  Cotton  says, 
was  also  highly  esteemed,  and  people  of  piety  cultivated  her 
acquaintance.  After  she  came  to  Boston,  which  was  on  the 
18th  September  1634,  she  was  treated  with  respect.  Much 
notice  was  taken  of  her  by  Mr.  Cotton,  and  particularly  by 
Mr.  Vane.  Her  husband  served  in  the  General  Court  on 
several  elections  as  a  representative  for  Boston,  until  he  was 
excused  at  the  desire  of  the  church.  So  much  attention 
seems  to  have  increased  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  natural  vanity, 
and  produced  too  much  self-confidence. 

The  novelty  of  the  thing  and  the  fame  of  Mrs.  H.  quickly 
gained  her  a  numerous  audience  at  her  meetings.  They 
were  kept  every  week,  and  from  sixty  to  eighty  women 
would  usually  attend.  Mrs.  H.  took  the  lead  in  prayer  and 
in  the  repetition  of  Mr.  Cotton's  sermons,  and  afterwards 
made  reflections  of  her  own.  She  grounded  her  practice  on 
the  injunction  given  by  Paul,  that  the  elder  women  should 
teach  the  younger.  At  first  these  meetings  were  generally 
approved,  but  after  some  time  it  appeared  that  Mrs.  H.  was 
in  the  habit  of  making  an  invidious  distinction  between  the 
ministers  in  the  colony  :  two  or  three  of  them  she  allowed  to 
be  sound  men,  under  the  covenant  of  grace;  the  rest  she  con- 
demned as  under  the  covenant  of  works. 

Mr.  John  Wheelwright,  a  brother-in-law  to  Mrs.  Hutchin- 
son, a  minister  of  character  for  learning  and  piety,  joined 
with  her  in  sentiment.  To  their  fault  of  classing  the  clergy 
under  so  exceptionable  a  distinction,  as  was  that  of  grace 
and  works  in  those  days,  they  added  the  propagation  of  two 
tenets,  which  were  deemed  to  be  dangerous  errours  :  1.  That 
the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost  dwells  in  a  justified  person.  2. 
That  sanctification  is  no  proof  of  justification.  And  Mrs.  H. 
maintained  the  belief,  that  individuals  might,  as  herself  had 
been,  be  favoured  with  immediate  revelations  equally  infal- 
lible with  the  scriptures. 

It  was  not  long  before  it  was  found,  that  the  far  greater 
part  of  the  Boston  church,  with  Mr.  Cotton  and  Gov.  Vane 
(whom  Mr.  Winthrop  yet  styles  a  wise  and  godly  gentleman, 
when  he  records  the  fact  in  his  journal)  held  to  the  doctrine 
of  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy  Ghost  :  but  Mr.  Vane  went  so 
far  before  the  rest   as  to   maintain    the  idea   of   a   personal 


70  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

union.  Mr.  Winthrop,  with  Mr.  Wilson  the  pastor,  and  four 
or  five  other  members,  denied  both.  The  parties  discussed 
their  different  opinions  in  writing,  and  came  to  this  conclu- 
sion ;  that  they  all  agreed  in  the  chief  matter  of  substance, 
namely,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  and  doth  dwell  in  the 
believer,  as  the  Father  and  Son  are  both  said  also  to  do;  but 
as  the  scriptures  do  not  declare  the  manner  of  this  union,  and 
as  the  mention  of  the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost  is  not  found 
in  them,  nor  in  the  writings  of  the  primitive  churches  for  the 
three  first  centuries,  it  was  earnestly  desired,  and  one  would 
think  must  have  been  agreed,  that  the  word  person  should  be 
forborne,  as  tending  only  to  doubtful  disputation. 

Such  were  some  of  the  notions  that  turned  the  city  upside 
down,  as  they  are  unintelligibly  communicated  to  us.  Had 
the  trouble  ended  here,  as  it  ought  to  have  done,  we  should 
probably  have  known  still  less  about  it.  But  opinions  had 
been  expressed  too  freely,  and  some  persons  retained  too 
much  attachment  to  their  own  notions  to  let  the  matter  rest. 
On  the  contrary,  affairs  were  so  managed  that  the  Boston 
church  became  embroiled  in  its  own  private  concerns,  and 
before  the  close  of  the  difficulty,  found  herself  opposed  to  all 
the  other  churches  in  the  country,  and  ministers  and  magis- 
trates in  all  quarters  arrayed  against  her. 

Some  members  of  this  church  were  strongly  inclined  to 
have  Mr.  Wheelwright  settled  as  a  colleague  with  Messrs.  Wil- 
son and  Cotton.  It  was  proposed  on  a  Lord's  day,  and 
another  day  appointed  for  deciding  on  the  measure.  When 
the  question  was  introduced,  one  of  the  members,  probably 
Mr.  Winthrop,  rose  and  declared  that  he  could  not  give  his 
consent.  The  reason  he  assigned  was,  that  he  considered 
the  church  already  furnished  with  able  ministers,  with  whose 
sentiments  and  dispositions  they  were  well  acquainted,  and 
whose  services  had  been  highly  blessed  :  he  saw  no  urgent 
necessity  for  the  proposed  step,  and  therefore  doubted  the 
proprietj7"  of  putting  the  welfare  of  the  church  to  the  least 
hazard,  by  calling  in  another  man  who  was  known  to  hold 
obnoxious  sentiments.  Gov.  Vane  expressed  his  surprise  at 
such  objections,  as  Mr.  Cotton  had  lately  approved  Mr. 
Wheelwright's  doctrines.  Mr.  C.  did  not  precisely  recollect, 
and  desired  Mr.  Wheelwright  to  explain  some  expressions 
attributed  to  him.  He  did  so,  and  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
first  mentioned  member  was  obliged  to  say  he  thought  it  quite 
likely  that  he  and  Mr.  Wheelwright  might  agree;  but  still,  not- 
withstanding he  allowed  him  to  be  a  very  good  man  and  very 
capable  minister,  he  could  not  consent  to  choose  him  for  a 
teacher  here,  for  he  was  at  best  too  apt  to  raise  '  doubtful  dis- 
putations.' On  the  whole,  the  church  concluded  to  give  way, 
with  the  understanding  that  Mr.  Wheelwright  might  be  called 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  71 

to  a  new  church  about  to  be  formed  at  Mount  Wolaston. 
Thus  the  influence  of  one  reasonable  man,  who  obstinately 
dares  to  do  his  duty,  may  oftentimes  prevent  his  friends  from 
injuring  themselves.  Mr.  Winthrop,  however,  was  not  for- 
given for  this  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  so  many,  until  he 
offered  an  apology  for  the  manner  in  which  he  made  it. 

The  ministers  in  the  other  towns  could  not  be  inactive  wit- 
nesses of  what  was  taking  place  in  Boston  :  indeed  the  Boston 
ideas  had  crept  into  some  of  their  churches.  They  had  re- 
paired hither,  to  examine  the  case  in  a  private  and  friendly 
way,  soon  after  the  obnoxious  doctrines  were  broached.  On 
the  subject  of  sanctification,  they  could  not  find  much  difference 
between  themselves  and  Messrs.Cotton  and  Wheelwright,  buton 
the  other  subject  of  the  personal  union,  they  could  not  agree. 
The  Court  at  last  in  a  more  formal  way  called  in  the  aid  of 
the  clergy,  and  so  a  joint  meeting  of  ministers  and  magistrates 
was   held  to   exterminate  heresy. 

In  the  course  of  this  conference  Mr.  Peters  took  occasion  to 
tell  Governour  Vane  that  within  less  than  two  years  since,  the 
churches  were  in  peace ;  and  besought  him  to  consider  his  short 
experience,  and  to  beware  of  hasty  and  peremptory  conclu- 
sions, which  he  perceived  him  to  be  very  liable  to.  The  bear- 
ing of  these  kind  hints  could  not  be  misunderstood.  Mr.  Wilson 
made  a  very  sad  speech  on  the  condition  of  the  churches,  and 
on  the  unavoidable  danger  of  a  separation,  if  the  differences 
and  alienations  were  not  speedily  remedied ;  and  he  laid  the 
blame  of  all  the  trouble  at  the  door  of  the  new  opinionists.  All 
the  magistrates  except  Gov.  Vane  and  two  others,  (probably 
Messrs.  Coddington  &  Dummer)  and  all  the  ministers  except 
two,  confirmed  his  declaration. 

This  speech  of  Mr.  Wilson  was  taken  so  ill  by  Mr.  Cotton 
and  others  of  his  church,  that  they  called  on  him  to  obtain 
satisfaction.  But  Mr.  Wilson,  and  some  others  considered 
that  the  call  of  the  court  made  the  case  a  special  one,  and 
left  him  at  liberty,  indeed  made  it  his  duty,  to  speak  freely. 
In  regard  to  any  allusion  to  particular  churches,  he  assured 
them  that  he  meant  not  the  Boston  church  or  its  members 
more  than  others.  This  explanation  would  not  satisfy,  and 
he  was  called  to  answer  publickly  for  his  offence,  on  Lord's 
day,  Dec.  31,  1636.  There  Mr  Vane  pressed  it  violently 
against  him,  and  so  did  all  the  church,  except  Mr.  Winthrop 
and  one  or  two  others.  It  was  strange,  says  the  Governour's 
journal,  '  to  see  how  such  as  had  known  Mr.  Wilson  so  long, 
and  known  what  good  he  had  done  for  that  church,  should 
fall  upon  him  with  such  bitterness  for  justifying  himself  in  a 
good  cause  ;  for  he  was  a  very  holy  and  upright  man,  and 
for  faith  and  love  inferior  to  none  in  the  country,  and  most 
dear  to  all  men.1     Mr.  Cotton  joined  with  the  church  in  their 


72  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

judgment  of  him,  not  without  some  appearance  of  prejudices 
yet  with  much  wisdom  and  moderation.  They  were  eager 
to  proceed  to  present  censure  ;  but  Mr.  Cotton  dissuaded 
them  from  that,  on  the  ground  that  '  it  might  not  be  done  be- 
cause some  opposed  it:'  so  he  gave  him  a  grave  exhortation, 
Mr.  Cotton  was  three  years  older  than  Mr.  Wilson,  and  two 
years  older  than  Gov.  Winthrop.  Notwithstanding  the  ad- 
monition, Mr.  Wilson  preached  on  the  next  Lord's  day,  and 
acquitted  himself  so  satisfactorily  that  Gov.  Vane  himself,  as 
was  the  custom  in  those  days,  '  gave  publick  witness  to  him.' 

This  was  not  the  end  of  the  church's  contentions.  One  re- 
puted heresy  paved  the  way  for  another,  till  at  length  the  sa- 
gacity of  some  men  could  discover  at  least  eighty  dangerous 
doctrines  to  prevail,  either  in  the  form  of  explicit  avowal  or  of 
necessary  inference.  Partly  on  account  of  this  trouble  a  gen- 
eral fast  was  kept  in  January  1637.  But  the  observance  of 
no  rites  whatever  was  able  to  abolish  the  existing  differences 
or  points  of  faith.  Mr.  Cotton  alone  of  all  the  settled  clergy 
was  on  one  side  ;  and  the  very  circumstance  of  his  dissenting 
from  his  brethren  was  sufficient  to  give  the  dispute  a  wider 
notoriety  and  keener  edge.  The  whole  country  was  by  this 
time  divided.  One  party  ranged  itself  on  the  side  of  justifica- 
tion, and  the  other  on  that  of  sanctification;  and  the  distinction 
between  the  advocates  of  free  grace,  and  the  adherents  to 
works,  was  as  broad  as  that  which  separates  protestants  from 
papists. 

The  General  Court  which  commenced  its  session  in  March 
upheld  its  interest  in  the  controversy.  It  had  a  party  in  fa- 
vour of  Mr.  Cotton  and  his  church,  but  the  majoritj'-  was  on 
the  side  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  his  friends.  Of  course  the  correct- 
ness of  the  proceedings  against  him  was  questioned,  and  the 
church  decided  to  have  been  in  the  wrong:  his  speech  in  the 
last  court  and  the  whole  tenour  of  his  conduct  were  adjudged 
not  only  faultless  but  reasonable. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  had  been  so  injudicious  as  to  preach  a 
sermon  on  the  late  fast  day,  which  was  calculated  to  inflame 
rather  than  to  allay  the  irritation  already  existing.  It  was 
understood  that  he  was  to  be  called  in  question  at  this  court 
for  the  seditious  tendency  of  that  sermon.  Nearly  all  the 
church  of  Boston  therefore  interposed,  and  presented  a  peti- 
tion or  remonstrance  on  the  subject,  in  which  they  demanded 
that  as  freemen  they  might  be  present  in  cases  of  judicature, 
and  that  the  court  should  declare  whether  they  had  a  right 
to  deal  in  cases  of  conscience  before  the  church.  The  peti- 
tion was  rejected  as  a  groundless  and  presumptuous  act.  The 
court  proceeded  to  adjudge  Mr.  Wheelwright  to  be  guilty 
of  sedition  and  also  of  contempt.  Gov.  Vane  and 
some  others   offered   a    protest   which   was    rejected.     The 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  T3 

church  of  Boston  also  offered  another  petition  in  which  they 
justified  Mr.  Wheelwright's  sermon.  In  conclusion,  sentence 
was  deferred  till  the  next  Court.  When  they  were  about 
adjourning,  it  was  moved  that  the  next  session  should  be  held 
at  Newtown.  Gov.  Vane,  considering  it  an  undeserved  re- 
proach upon  the  people  of  Boston,  refused  to  put  the  vote. 
The  deputy,  Mr.  Winthrop,  being  also  a  Boston  man,  declin- 
ed doing  it,  except  the  court  required  it :  so  the  honour  fell 
to  Mr.  Endicott,  who  put  the  question  and  it  was  carried  in 
the  affirmative. 

We   find  no  event  in  the  course  of  the  history  of  Boston, 
which  appears  to  have  excited  more  universal  interest  in  the 
people  of  the  town  than  this    Antinomian    controversy,  as    it 
was  called.     Whether  their  religious  notions    were   right  or 
wrong,  it  is  impossible  to  tell  ;    but  it  is  evident  that  they  felt 
their  rights  as  an  independent  church  to  be  encroached  upon, 
and  that  they  were  jealous  for  their  political  privileges.    The 
next  court  was  held,  according  to  vote,  on   the  17th  of  May. 
Soon  as   the    meeting  was   organized,   which   was  about   one 
o'clock,  a  petition  was  offered   by  those  from   Boston.     Gov. 
Vane  would  have  read  it  ;    but  Mr.  Winthrop  declared  it  to 
be  out  of  order,  as  this  was  a  court  of  election.     Others  also 
opposed  the  reading;  because   the  petition  being  upon  some 
'  pretence  of  liberty'  (a  favourite  Boston. notion)  would  spend 
the  whole  day  in  debate.     Mr.  Wilson,  in  his  zeal,  got  upon 
the   bough  of  a  tree  (it  was  warm  weather,  and  the  election 
was  carried  on  in  the  field)  and  there  made  a  speech,  advising 
the  people  to  look  to  their  charter  and  proceed  to  the  business 
of  the  day.     The   people   applauded  him  and  cried  out  Elec- 
tion !  Election  !  the  great  majority  was  for  proceeding.     Gov. 
Vane  and  his  friends  were  not  contented,  till  the  deputy  told 
him,  that  if  he  would  not  go  on,  himself  and  the  rest  would 
proceed  without  him.     Upon  this  he  yielded,  and  the  election 
resulted  in  a  return  to  the  original   establishment,  Mr.  Win- 
throp  for  Governour   and    Mr.  Dudley  for  Deputy.     Some 
new   assistants  were  chosen,  and  Mr.  Vane,  Mr.  Coddington 
and  Mr.  Richard  Dummer  left  entirely  out  of  office.     This 
meeting  was   very  tumultuous  ;    some  fierce   speeches  were 
made  and  blows  struck,  but  the  strength  being  evidently  on 
one  side,  the  other  soon  grew  quiet. 

Boston  had  deferred  the  choice  of  her  representatives  till 
the  election  for  Governour  should  be  over.  The  next  morn- 
ing, Mr.  Vane,  Mr.  Coddington  and  Mr.  Atherton  Hough 
were  chosen.  The  court  considered  this  selection  an  insult, 
and  sent  them  home  again,  on  the  ground  that  two  of  the 
freemen  of  Boston  had  not  been  notified.  On  a  new  choice 
khe  next  day,  the  town  returned  the  same  gentlemen,  and  'the 
10 


74  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

court  not  finding  how  they  might  reject  them,  they  were 
admitted.' 

Upon  the  election  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  the  four  Serjeants,  who 
had  attended  the  former  Covernour  to  the  court,  being  all 
Boston  men,  laid  down  their  halberds  and  went  home,  refus- 
ing to  perform  any  such  service  in  honour  of  Gov.  Winthrop.* 
Mr.  Vane  and  Mr.  Coddington  being  discontented  that  the 
people  had  left  them  out  of  all  office,  refused  to  sit  in  the 
magistrates'  seat  in  the  meeting-house,  and  took  their  seats 
with  the  deacons,  although  Gov.  W.  politely  invited  them  to 
sit  with  him. 

Mr.  Wheelwright  appeared  at  this  court,  according  to  order, 
but  as  a  day  of  fasting  had  been  appointed  for  the  25th  of 
the  month,  '  when  it  was  agreed  that  all  the  churches  should 
choose  men  to  meet  and  confer  about  the  differences,'  the 
court  gave  him  respite  to  the  next  session,  which  was  appoint- 
ed for  the  first  Tuesday  in  August.  They  gave  him  that  time 
to  consider  whether  he  would  retract  his  errours  and  make 
submission,  or  abide  the  decision  of  the  court.  His  answer  was 
noble  :  '  if  I  have  been  guilty  of  sedition,  let  me  die;  recan- 
tation is  out  of  the  question  :  if  you  proceed  thus  unrighteous- 
ly against  me,  I  shall  appeal  to  the  tribunal  of  my  king.' 

There  was  some  expectation,  about  this  time,  of  an  arrival 
from  England,  with,  a  party  of  emigrants  favourable  to  the 
sentiments  prevailing  in  Boston.  This  court  therefore  seiz- 
ed the  opportunity  of  preventing  such  a  calamity  as  they 
supposed  their  settlement  here  would  be,  and  passed  a 
law  which  prohibited  all  persons  to  entertain  any  stranger, 
who  should  come  with  intention  to  reside,  without  liberty 
from  one  of  the  standing  council  or  two  other  assistants.  This 
was  a  very  severe  order,  and  was  so  disliked  by  the  people 
of  Boston,  that  upon  the  Governour's  return  from  court,  they 
all  refused  to  go  out  to  meet  him,  or  show  him  any  respect. 

Mr.  Cotton  was  so  dissatisfied  with  this  law,  that  he  was  on 
the  point  of  removing  to  New-Haven.  A  defence  of  it  was 
published  by  the  magistrates,  and  answered  by  Mr.  Vane, 
who  was  replied  to,  probably  by  Gov.  Winthrop.t  But  ar- 
guments served  only  to  make  each  party  better  satisfied  of 
their  own  correctness.  The  difference  between  Mr.  Vane  and 
the  Governour  became  so  great,  that  Vane  refused  an  invita- 
tion to  a  dinner,  given  by  the  Governour  in  honour  of  Lord 
Leigh,  a  young   nobleman,  who   was  here  on  a  visit  to  the 


*  The  country  taking  notice  of  this,  offered  to  send  in  some  from  the  neighbouring  towns  to 
carry  the  halberds  by  course,  and  upon  that  the  town  of  Boston  offered  to  send  some  men 
but  not  the  Serjeants  :  the  Governour  chose  rather  to  make  use  of  two  of  his  own  servants. 

t  See  Hutch,  coll.  of  papers,  p.  67— S4. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  75 

country.  His  lordship  and  Mr.  Vane  prepared  to  return  in 
August.  At  their  departure  (Aug.  2)  Mr.  Vane's  friends  as- 
sembled and  accompanied  him  to  the  boat.  A  military  com- 
pany being  under  arms,  gave  them  '  divers  volleys  of  shot,' 
and  five  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  they  had  five  more  at  the 
castle.  The  governour  was  absent,  attending  court  at  New- 
town, '  but  he  had  left  order  with  the  captain  for  their  hon- 
ourable dismission.' 

On  Mr.  Vane's  return  to  England  he  assumed  an  active 
part  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  kingdom  ;  was  knighted  in 
1640;  joined  the  party  that  was  against  King  Charles,  and 
after  the  restoration  was  tried  for  high  treason  and  beheaded 
June  14,  1662. 

He  had  lived,  while  in  Boston,  in  the  house  which  now 
stands  on  the  westerly  side  of  Common  Street,  (within  the 
square  Fh  of  our  plan,)  on  one  of  the  Tremont  hillocks,  next 
northeasterly  to  the  mansion  house  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Phillips. 
This  is  the  oldest  house  in  the  city  of  which  we  have  any  ac- 
count. It  was  originally  small.  Mr.  Vane  gave  it  to  Mr. 
Cotton,  who  made  an  addition  to  it,  and  lived  and  died  there. 
His  family  occupied  it  some  time  after.  The  building  is  of 
wood :  the  front  part  has  a  modern  appearance,  but  the  back 
exhibits  marks  of  its  antiquity. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

™  Ah  me  !  outstretch'd  I  see, 

In  nameless  agony, 
Woman's  imploring  hand." 

Sir  Henry  Vane  has  had  the  credit  of  being  the  life-blood 
of  the  party,  which  Mrs.  Hutchinson's  notions  had  created. 
However  that  may  have  been,  it  is  very  apparent  that  his 
presence  here  formed  a  powerful  protection  for  them  against 
the  spirit  of  persecution,  which  had  already  been  active. 
Roger  Williams  had  been  banished  for  holding  opinions  less 
dangerous,  in  the  mind  of  Gov.  Winthrop ;  and  it  had  been 
declared  by  Mr.  Vane,  that  the  execution  of  the  law  against 
strangers  would  be  followed  by  the  banishment  of  such  as 
were  already  here.  We  shall  see  that  his  forebodings  were 
wofully  prophetick. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson  continued  her  lectures,  and  her  admirers 
are  said  to  have  been  indefatigable  in  spreading  her  senti- 
ments :  both  church  and  state  were  thrown  into  uproar  and 


76  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

the  affections  of  people  strangely  alienated ;  they  were  fre- 
quently quarrelsome,  and  upon  every  occasion  ready  to  come 
to  blows.  Both  parties  claimed  Mr.  Cotton  for  their  own 
man  :  the  one  affirmed  that  the  doctrines  they  taught  were 
regularly  deduced  from  his  sermons,  the  other  denied  it.  At 
last  Mr.  Cotton  was  desired  to  declare  himself  freely  from  the 
pulpit,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and  condemned  most  of  the 
new  positions  as  false  and  erroneous.  This  brought  upon  him 
the  bitterest  reproaches :  he  was  called  by  some  a  timorous 
man,  that  durst  not  abide  by  his  own  sentiments  ;  by  others  a 
deceiver,  that  taught  one  thing  in  publick  and  another  in  pri- 
vate. One  man,  more  impudent  if  more  witty  than  the  rest, 
sent  him  a  pound  of  candles,  bidding  his  servant  tell  him  it 
was  because  he  wanted  light;  '  upon  which  the  good  man  be- 
stowed only  a  silent  smile.' 

The  August  court  probably  postponed  the  business  of  Mr. 
Wheelwright,  until  they  should  know  the  result  of  the  synod, 
which  was  expected  to  meet  at  Newtown,  in  accordance  with 
the  May  vote,  on  the  30th  of  that  month.     The  object  of  this 
assembly  having  been  the  purification  of  Boston  from  heresy, 
a  particular  account  of  it  demands  a  place  here.     There  were 
present  not  only  the  ministers  and  messengers  from  the  seve- 
ral churches,  but  also  the  magistrates  for  keeping  the  peace, 
who  were  allowed  both  to  hear,  and  to  speak,  if  they  had  a 
mind.     A  place  was  likewise  appointed   for  the  favourers  of 
the  new  opinions,  and  the  doors  were  set  open,  for  as  many 
as  pleased  to  come  in  and  hear  the  debates.     The  first  day 
was  spent  in  choosing  Mr.  Hooker  from  Connecticut  and  Mr. 
Bulkley  minister  of  Concord,  for  moderators.     Mr.  Cotton, 
though  confessedly  at  the  head  of  the  clergy,  was  thought  to 
be  too  much  a  party  to  be  honoured  with  that  dignity.     A  list 
was  then  read  of  eighty-two  erroneous  opinions,  which  had 
been    maintained    in   various  parts   of  the  country,  some  of 
which  were  the  most  monstrous  and  absurd  ever  heard  of.   The 
following  days  were  spent  in  debating  the  several  points.     In 
the  morning  a  committee  was  employed  in  forming  arguments 
against  the  errours  to  be  confuted  that  day,  which  in  the  after- 
noon were  produced  in  the  synod.    Next  day  the  defenders 
gave  in  their  reply,  and  produced  their  arguments  for  the  sup- 
port of  their  side  of  the  question  ;  the  third  day,  the  opponents 
made  the  last  reply.     The  authors  of  the  errours  were  neither 
mentioned  nor  enquired   for  by  the   synod,    but  the    errours 
themselves    were    confuted  and  condemned  by  reference   to 
particular  texts   of  scripture,   which,   says  Cotton    Mather, 
being  briefly  applied  unto  the  case,  did,  unto  reasonable  men, 
immediately  smite    the  errour  under   the   fifth  rib.    All  the 
members  of  the  synod   signed  the   condemnation,  except  Mr. 
Cotton,  who,  though  he  expressed  his  dislike  of  the  major  part 


HISTOHY    OF   BOSTON.  77 

of  the  doctrines,  refused  to  condemn  them  in  the  lump:  the 
synod  endeavoured  to  convince  him  of  his  mistake,  but  in 
vain.  Yet  this  did  not  prevent  a  reconciliation  between  him 
and  the  rest  of  the  clergj' :  he  agreed  to  unite  with  them  in 
opposing  what  he  believed  to  be  false,  and  '  thereafter  this 
reverend  and  worthy  minister  regained  his  former  splendour, 
with  his  wonted  esteem  and  interest  in  the  hearts  of  all  his 
friends  and  acquaintance.' 

Numbers  of  the  Boston  church  were  present  at  this  synod. 
They,  as  well  as  some  others  were  offended  that  so  many 
errours  should  be  produced,  and  declared  it  a  reproach  laid 
upon  the  country  without  cause.  They  called  for  the  names 
of  persons  holding  this  or  that  doctrine,  and  were  answered, 
that  the  evidence  was  abundant,  that  such  errours  had  advo- 
cates either  in  town  or  country,  yet  as  the  synod  had  no  con- 
cern with  persons,  but  with  doctrines  only,  it  was  deemed  in- 
expedient to  name  any  individual.  The  minority  however 
were  too  much  warmed  to  suffer  any  thing  to  be  secreted. 
They  were  urgent  in  their  calls  for  names  and  witnesses. 
The  moderator,  called  for  order  in  vain,  and  the  magistrates, 
on  suggesting  that  if  silence  were  not  maintained  they  should 
be  obliged  to  interpose,  were  told  that  they  had  no  province 
in  such  an  assembly.  One  of  them  retorted,  that  if  immediate 
silence  did  not  ensue,  an  opportunity  would  be  given  for  test- 
ing the  correctness  of  the  two  opinions.  There  was  so  much 
severity  in  this  sort  of  language,  that  some  of  the  Boston  mem- 
bers withdrew  from  the  assembly. 

Among  other  things  which  this  synod  decreed,  this  was 
one:  though  some  few  women  may  meet  together  for  prayer 
and  mutual  advice,  yet  such  a  set  assembly,  as  is  in  practice 
at  Boston,  is  unlawful  (where  sixty  or  more  meet  every  week, 
and  one  woman  takes  upon  herself  the  whole  exercise.)  Ano- 
ther decree  was,  that  private  members  should  be  very  spar 
ing  intheir  questions  and  observations  in  publick  after  sermon. 
These  two  decisions  struck  at  the  root  of  two  Boston  evils. 
Mr.  Davenport  delivered  the  decrees  of  the  synod,  and  after 
preaching  a  very  seasonable  discourse  from  Philippians  iii. 
16.  dismissed  the  meeting  on  the  22d  of  September. 

One  would  have  thought,  says  Neal,  '  the  unanimous  voice 
of  the  synod  should  have  quieted  the  minds  of  the  people,  but 
the  heads  of  the  faction  were  not  to  be  vanquished  by  scrip- 
ture and  reason.  Mr.  Wheelwright  continued  his  preaching, 
and  Mrs.  Hutchinson  her  meeting,  and  their  followers  were  so 
influenced  by  their  doctrines,  that  when  Mr.  Wilson  went  up 
into  the  pulpit,  half  the  congregation  would  go  out.'  In  this 
state  of  things,  the  people  were  prepared  for  further  proceed- 
ings against  those  who  maintained  the  condemned  opinions. 
The  court  met   on    the  26th  of  September,  when  Mr.  Wheel- 


78  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

wright  appeared  and  was  dismissed  till  further  orders.  It 
seems  that  a  major  vote  of  the  deputies,  to  execute  the  decrees 
of  the  late  synod,  could  not  be  obtained  ;  therefore*  the  house 
was  dissolved  and  a  new  one  chosen.  Eleven  only  out  of 
twenty-six  of  the  former  deputies  were  elected  into  the  new 
court,  which  met  Nov.  2,  at  Newtown,  because  '  the  town  of 
Boston  was  so  infected  with  the  new  opinions,  that  they  were 
afraid  of  a  riot.'  The  representatives  from  Boston  were 
Messrs.  Coddington,  Aspinwall  and  Coggeshall. 

This  court,  finding  upon  consultation  that  two  so  opposite 
parties  could  not  continue  in  the  same  body  without  apparent 
hazard  of  ruin  to  the  whole,  agreed  to  send  away  some  of  the 
principals.  For  this  a  '  fair  opportunity  was  offered  by  the 
remonstrance  which  was  preferred  by  the  Boston  people  in 
March  last,  and  rejected  by  the  court  as  presumptuous.!'  The 
remonstrance  was  signed  by  more  than  sixty  hands.  The 
first  step  was  to  clear  their  own  body  from  all  that  had  any 
concern  in  it.  Mr.  Aspinwall  was  a  signer  and  Mr.  Cogges- 
hall had  defended  it :  they  were  therefore  expelled,  and  war- 
rant issued  to  the  town  for  a  new  choice.  The  people  would 
fain  have  sent  the  same  men  again,  but  Mr.  Cotton  appeared 
at  the  meeting  (Nov.  6.)  and  with  much  ado  dissuaded  them 
from  their  resolution.  They  then  chose  William  Colburn  and 
John  Oliver  to  be  joined  with  Mr.  Coddington. §  Oliver  was 
in  the  same  condemnation  and  he  was  not  received.  But 
whether  the  court  had  too  much  discretion  to  insult  the  town 
by  a  warrant  for  a  third  election,  or  whether  the  town  had 
too  much  spirit  to  choose  another  does  not  appear.|| 

The  next  business  was  to  dispose  of  Mr.  Wheelwright.  The 
court  summoned  him  to  give  his  peremptory  answer,  whether 
he  would  acknowledge  his  offence,  or  abide  the  sentence  of 
the  court.  His  answer  was,  '  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  no 
sedition  nor  contempt;  that  he  had  delivered  nothing  but  the 
truth,  and  as  for  the  application  of  his  doctrine,  that  was  made 
by  others  and  not  by  himself,'  He  was  then  desired  to  leave 
the  colon}'-  of  his  own  accord,  and  upon  refusal,  received  the 
following  sentence  :  '  Mr.  J.  W.  being  formerly  convicted  of 
contempt  and  sedition  and  now  justifying  himself  and  his  for- 
mer practice,  being  the  disturbance  of  the  civil  peace,  he  is  by 
the  court  disfranchised  and  banished,  having  fourteen  days 
to  settle  his  affairs.' 

Next  came  on  the  examination  of  the  petitioners.  The 
first  who  was  sent  for  was  Mr.  Coggeshall,  who  was  a  deacon 


*  Backus.  t  JVinthrop,s  Journal. 

I  See  this  remonstrance  in  Appendix  No.  II. 

%  Town  records.  ||  Mass.  H.  C.  2.  x.  24. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  79 

of  the  Boston  church.  The  court  charged  him  with  contempt 
for  having  said  that  if  they  expelled  Mr.  Aspinwall  for  sign- 
ing the  remonstrance,  they  had  better  make  but  one  work  of 
all;  for  though  his  hand  was  not  to  it,  his  heart  was  in  it.' 
Mr.  Coggeshall  pleaded  that  his  privilege  as  a  deputy  should 
screen  him  from  any  punishment.  The  court  would  not  ac- 
cede to  this  and  he  '  was  disfranchised  and  enjoined  not  to 
speak  any  thing  to  disturb  the  publick  peace  upon  pain  of  ban- 
ishment.' 

Mr.  Aspinwall  was  called  next.  He  not  only  had  signed 
the  remonstrance,  but  was  himself  the  author  of  it,  and  had 
carried  it  about  town  to  get  signers  to  it.  He  justified  himself, 
and  was  disfranchised  and  banished,  to  depart  before  the 
end  of  the  next  March. 

After  these,  William  Balston  and  Edward  Hutchinson  two 
of  the  Serjeants  of  Boston  appeared.  Both  their  hands  were 
to  the  remonstrance,  and  the  court  took  a  great  deal  of  pains  to 
make  them  acknowledge  their  offence;  but  they  were  obsti- 
nate, and  uttered  a  great  many  affronting  speeches  against  the 
magistrates  who  were  not  of  their  opinion  :  so  they  were  both 
'  turned  out  of  their  places,  disfranchised  and  fined,  Balston 
£20  and  Hutchinson  £40  :  but  H.  owning  his  fault  the  next 
day  was  released  of  his  fine,  and  only  disfranchised.' 

Another  day,  four  or  five  more  of  the  leading  petitioners 
were  called,  and  they,  being  obstinate  too,  were  disfranchised. 
Capt.  Underhill  had  his  commission  taken  from  him,  and 
Thomas  Marshall,  the  ferryman,  lost  his  place.  Ten  others 
whose  names  were  signed  made  their  appearance,  but  the  court 
judging  that  they  had  been  drawn  in,  by  the  subtilty  of  a  few 
active  men,  they  were  pardoned,  upon  acknowledging  their 
offence. 

As  disfranchised  men  were  not  likely  to  be  long  quiet  or  to 
remain  friendless,  it  was  judged  not  improbable  that  those 
who  had  been  seduced  into  the  errours  of  Mr.  W.  and  Mrs. 
H.  might  '  as  others  in  Germany  in  former  times,  upon  some 
revelation,  make  sudden  irruption  upon  those  that  differ  from 
them  in  judgment ;  for  prevention  whereof  it  is  ordered  that 
those  whose  names  are  underwritten  shall  deliver  in  at  Mr. 
Keayne's  house,  at  Boston,  all  such  guns,  pistols,  swords, 
powder,  shot  and  match  as  they  shall  be  owners  of,  or  have  in 
their  custody — and  no  man  who  is  to  render  his  arms  by  this 
order,  may  buy  or  borrow  any  guns,  swords  or  pistols,  pow- 
der, shot  or  match,  until  this  court  shall  take  further  order 
herein.'  Seventy-six  men  are  named  as  being  disarmed  by 
this  order,  only  if  any  of  them  would  disavow  the  remon- 
strance, they  might  be  freed  from  its  operation.  Of  these  sev- 
enty-six 58  belonged  to  Boston.  The  whole  number  of  fam- 
ilies in  town  did  not  much  exceed  120. 


30  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

Mrs.  Hutchinson's  fate  remained  to  be  determined.  She 
was  accordingly  sent  for  by  the  court.  She  was  formally  ac- 
cused of  the  errours  attributed  to  her,  and  witnesses  were  pro- 
duced to  sustain  the  charges.  Several  clergymen  gave  ac- 
count of  conferences  they  had  held  with  her,  which  exhibited 
her  conduct  in  an  unfavourable  light.  She  demanded  that 
they  should  be  put  under  oath.  After  much  altercation  that 
course  was  adopted.  Messrs.  Eliot.  Peters  and  Weld  were 
sworn,  and  the  amount  of  their  testimony  was  '  that  Mrs.  H. 
averred,  that  there  was  a  broad  difference  between  them  and 
Mr.  Cotton ;  that  he  preached  a  covenant  of  grace  and  they 
of  works  ;  that  they  were  not  able  ministers  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament and  were  not  clear  in  their  experience,  because  they 
were  not  sealed  and  were  but  like  the  apostles  before  the  as- 
cension.' This  was  the  head  and  front  of  her  offending.  The 
trial  lasted  two  days  :  for  the  most  part  she  referred  her  ac- 
cusers and  judges  to  the  scriptures,  whose  words,  says  Mr. 
Emerson,  it  must  be  confessed,  as  urged  by  the  woman,  often 
caused  them  some  little  confusion.  She  acknowledged  her 
confidence  in  revelations,  which  she  had  received  in  regard 
to  future  providences,  and  this  acknowledgment  satisfied 
most  of  the  court  of  her  worthiness  of  banishment.  She 
warned  them  to  forbear,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  the  trial  con- 
cludes thus : 

Gov.  If  it  be  the  mind  of  the  court  that  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  for  these  things  that  appear 

before  us,  is  unfit  for  our  society,  and  if  it  be  the  mind  of  the  court  that  she  shall  be  banish- 
ed out  of  our  liberties,  and  imprisoned  till  she  be  sent  away,  let  them  hold  up  their  hands ; 
All  but  three. 

Those  that  are  contrary  minded,  hold  up  yours  : 
Mr.  Coddington  and  Mr.  Colburn  only. 

Mr.  Jennison.  I  cannot  hold  up  my  hand  one  way  or  the  other,  and  I  shall  give  my  rea- 
son if  the  court  require  it. 

Gov.  Mrs.  Hutchinson  !  the  sentence  of  the  court  you  hear  is,  that  you  are  banished  from 
out  of  our  jurisdiction,  as  being  a  woman  not  fit  for  our  society,  and  are  to  be  imprisoned 
till  the  court  shall  send  you  away. 

Mrs.  H.    I  desire  to  know  wherefore  I  am  banished. 

Gov.    Say  no  more  :  the  court  know  wherefore,  and  is  satisfied. 

After  this  sentence  Mrs.  H.  remained  in  Boston  and  the 
neighbourhood,  in  custodj^  of  some  of  the  clergy.  The  church 
found  occasion  to  disapprove  her  conduct,  and  on  the  22d  of 
March  1633,  she  was  '  cast  out  of  the  church  for  impenitently 
persisting  in  a  manifest  lie.'  She  received  orders  from  the 
Governour  to  leave  the  jurisdiction  before  the  close  of  the 
month,  and  accordingly  departed  on  the  28th  day.  She  went 
with  her  husband  to  Rhode  Island.  In  the  year  1642,  after 
her  husband's  death,  she  removed  into  the  Dutch  country 
beyond  New  Haven,  and  the  next  year  she  and  all  her  family, 
consisting  of  sixteen  persons,  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  ex- 
cept one  daughter,  whom  they  carried  into  captivity. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  81 

In  consequence  of  these  proceedings,  which  the  sufferers 
felt  to  be  severely  oppressive,  however  justifiable  the  au- 
thors may  have  thought  themselves,  a  considerable  number 
of  very  respectable  men  contemplated  a  removal  from  Boston. 
It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  John  Clarke,  a  learned  physician,  a 
man  of  ardent  piety  and  sound  understanding,  sufficient  knowl- 
edge and  much  usefulness.  He  with  some  others  were  chosen 
to  select  a  convenient  place,  and  after  wandering  up  and  down, 
in  the  depth  of  winter,  they  concluded  upon  Rhode  Island, 
whither  they  removed  in  the  spring  of  1638.  The  court  had 
intimations,  that  it  was  their  intention  to  return,  when  the  fer- 
vour of  the  times  should  be  abated.  To  prevent  this,  an  order 
of  banishment  was  issued  against  a  number,  requiring  that 
they  should  remove  their  families,  whenever  they  went  them- 
selves. Mr.  Coddington  was  included  in  this  order.  He 
was  the  principal  man  of  the  company,  but  for  some  reason 
had  not  attracted  the  attentions  of  the  court  heretofore,  being 
neither  disfranchised  nor  disarmed.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
family,  and  fortune,  from  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  and  most  eminent  merchants  here.  His  prop- 
erty at  Mt.  Wolaston  was  large,  and  he  owned  the  first  brick 
building  which  was  erected  in  Boston.* 

The  jealousy  entertained  against  Boston  at  this  period  was 
carried  so  far  that  an  order  was  passed  to  have  the  courts 
both  General  and  Quarter  kept  at  Newtown,  till  further  order. 
The  publick  stores  of  powder  and  arms  were  removed  to 
Newtown  and  Roxbury,  and  the  persons  disarmed  were  ex- 
cused from  performing  military  duty.  The  courts  returned  to 
Boston  in  the  latter  part  of  the  next  year,  but  the  powder  was 
kept  at  Roxbury  till  April  1645,  when  seventeen  barrels  of  it 
were  blown  up.  The  explosion  shook  the  houses  in  Boston 
and  Cambridge  like  an  earthquake,  and  burning  cinders  were 
brought  by  the  winds  beyond  the  Boston  meeting  house.t 


*  It  is  difficult  to  say  positively  where  this  building'  stood.  Some  expert  antiquary  may 
hereafter  be  able  to  ascertain  the   fact  by  tracing  out  the  points  in  the  following  minute. 

Town  records  March  6. 1637.  Our  brother  Willyam  Balstone  shall  have  the  remaining 
swampe  on  the  backside  of  Mr.  Coddington's  swampe  unto  the  widdow  Burton's  corner  payle 
leaving  out  twoe  rodde  and  a  halfe  for  eyther  of  the  high  wayes  that  are  against  it ;  the  one 
being  the  way  to  the  mylue  and  the  other  to  the  cove  nextunto  Mr.  Coddington's. 

It  appears  that  bricks  were  made  here,  from  a  record  Dec.  26.  1636  :  Thomas  Mount  has  leave 
to  fence  in  a  piece  of  the  marsh  before  his  house  for  the  making  of  brick. 

t  Cambridge  received  that  name  at  the  court  in  May  1638,  in  consequence  of  the  College 
being  established  there,  and  the  college  received  the  name  of  Harvard  in  the  same  year. 
—Hubbard.  237.  430. 

11 


.32  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON". 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Emerging  from  a  sea  of  dreams 

Tumultuous Young. 

The  winter  of  1637-8  was  very  severe  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Boston  suffered  extremely  for  the  want  of  fuel  :  the  snow 
lay  four  feet  and  a  half  deep,  from  the  fourth  of  November 
to  March  23d.  Gov.  Winthrop  relates  that  a  party  of  thirty 
men  started  on  a  fair  day  (Jan.  13)  for  the  purpose  of  cutting- 
wood  on  Spectacle  Island.  The  next  night  a  N.  E.  storm  set 
in  and  was  followed  by  two  days  strong  N.  W.  winds,  so  that 
the  harbour  was  all  frozen  over,  except  a  small  channel,  in 
which  twelve  of  the  men  found  their  way  to  the  Governour's 
Garden  [Ft.  Warren.]  Seven  more  were  carried  in  the  ice  in 
a  small  skiff  out  to  Broad  Sound,  and  kept  among  the  Brew- 
ster rocks  without  food  or  fire  two  days.  The  rest  made  for 
the  main  from  the  island,  but  two  of  them  fell  through  the  ice, 
and  came  near  being  drowned.  Of  the  seven  that  fell  among 
the  rocks,  all  had  their  hands  and  feet  frozen,  some  lost  fin- 
gers and  toes,  and  one  died.  On  this  occasion  the  Governour 
remarks  in  a  letter  to  his  son,  that  many  were  discouraged, 
and  the  settlement  here  was  well  nigh  being  broken  up.  It 
was  probably  in  reference  to  the  state  of  things,  which  exist- 
ed at  this  juncture,  that  Boston  acquired  the  proverbial  appel- 
lation of  Lost  Town. 

A  voyager  of  some  little  note  visited  these  parts  about  this 
time,  and  the  world  has  been  favoured  with  his  observations, 
under  the  title  of  JVero  England's  Rarities.  John  Josselyn, 
Gent,  anchored  in  the  bay  of  Massachusetts  before  Boston, 
July  3d.  1638.  The  tenth  day,  says  he,  'I  went  ashore  upon 
Noddle's  Island  to  Mr.  Sam.  Maverick,  for  my  passage,  the 
only  hospitable  man  in  all  the  country,  giving  entertainment 
to  all  comers,  gratis.  Having  refreshed  myself  for  a  day  or 
two,  I  crossed  the  bay  [harbour]  in  a  small  boat  to  Boston, 
which  then  was  rather  a  village  than  a  town,  there  being  not 
above  twenty  or  thirty  houses  :  and  presenting  my  respects 
to  Mr.  Winthorpe  the  Governour,  and  to  Mr.  Cotton  the  teach- 
er of  Boston  church,  to  whom  I  delivered  from  Mr.  Francis 
Quarles  the  poet,  the  translation  of  the  16.  25.51.  88.  113. 
137.  Psalms  in  English  Metre  for  his  approbation.  Being  civil- 
ly treated  by  all  I  had  occasion  to  converse  with,  I  returned 
in  the  evening  to  my  lodgings.'  Josselyn  left  on  the  twentieth 
of  Juljr  for  the  eastward,  where  he  had  a  brother,  and  return- 
ed Sep.  27th.     'Next  day  I  went  aboard  of  Mr.  Hinderson. 


Hl.STOUY    OF   BOSTON.  83 

master  of  a  ship  of  500  tons,  and  Capt.  Jackson  in  the  Queen 
of  Bohemia  privateer,  and  from  thence  I  went  ashore  to  Bos- 
ton where  1  refreshed  myself  at  an  Ordinary.'  He  also  men- 
tions one  Long's  ordinary  in  Charlestown.  There  were  two 
such  ordinaries  or  houses  of  entertainment  in  Boston,  into 
which  if  a  stranger  went,  he  was  presently  followed  by  one 
appointed  to  that  office,  who  would  thrust  himself  into  his 
company,  uninvited,  and  if  he  called  for  more  drink  than  the 
officer  thought  in  his  judgment  he  could  soberly  bear  away, 
he  would  presently  countermand  it,  and  appoint  the  propor- 
tion beyond  which  he  could  not  get  one  drop. 

'Oct.  11.  our  master  having  been  ashore  upon  the  Govern- 
our's  Island  gave  me  half  a  score  very  fair  pippins  which  he 
brought  from  thence,  there  being  not  one  apple  tree  nor  pear 
planted  yet,  in  no  part  of  the  country,  but  upon  that  island.' 
Several  adventures  are  described  by  our  author,  which  would 
do  credit  to  a  modern  English  traveller  in  America,  but  con- 
vey no  other  useful  hints,  except  it  be  one,  that  Mr.  Maverick 
had  in  his  family  an  African  slave. 

Doubts  have  been  somewhere  expressed  concerning  the  cor- 
rectness of  Josselyn's  statement  in  regard  to  the  number  of 
houses  :  but  he  repeats  it  in  another  part  of  his  book,  and  must 
be  understood  to  speak  of  the  framed  buildings  then  in  the 
place,  and  not  to  have  included  the  mud-wall  cottages,  ol 
which  many  yet  remained.  The  number  of  buildings  likely 
to  be  permanent  had  become  so  great  as  to  require  such  pro- 
visions as  these  : 

1636.  Oct.  4.  There  shall  no  house  at  all  be  built  in  this 
town  in  any  of  the  streets  or  lanes,  but  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  overseers  of  the  town's  occasions,  for  the  avoid- 
ing of  disorderly  building,  the  inconveniences  of  streets  and 
lanes,  and  for  the  more  comely  and  commodious  ordering  of 
them,  upon  the  forfeiture  for  every  house  built  contrary  to 
this  ord<jT,  of  such  sum  as  the  overseers  shall  see  fitting,  un- 
der the  ium  of  Xs. 

17th.  Item.  John  Gallop  shall  remove  his  pales  at  his  yards 
end,  within  14  days,  and  shall  range  them  even  with  the  cor- 
ner of  his  house,  for  the  preserving  the  way  upon  the  sea 
bank. 

Dec.  10.  Not  above  one  dwelling  house  may  be  built  on  any 
one  lot,  without  the  approbation  of  the  town's  overseers. 

1637.  Sept.  25.  Special  permission  is  granted  to  William 
Hudson  to  set  his  new  building  one  foot  and  a  half  into  the 
street,  towards  the  sea  side  where  he  dwelleth. 

1640.  March  30.  We  find  this  remarkable  entry:  John 
Palmer,  carpenter,  is  allowed  to  be  an  inhabitant  here,  if  he 
can  get  a  house,  or  land  to  set  a  house  upon,  it  being  not  prop- 
er to  allow  a  man  an  inhabitant  without  a  habitation. 


84  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

These  extracts  sufficiently  show  what  many  similar  records 
corroborate,  that  our  ancestors  were  not  so  neglectful  of  the 
appearance  of  their  town,  as  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of 
supposing  them  to  have  been. 

During  the  scenes  of  confusion  which  formed  the  subject 
of  our  two  last  chapters,  the  colonists  had  occasion  to  exhibit 
their  power  and  courage  in  a  short  conflict  with  the  Pequod 
Indians,  a  tribe  inhabiting  the  parts  about  Connecticut  River. 
Mr.  Endicott  with  a  party  of  80  men  had  chastised  them  in 
the  summer  of  1636,  but  they  remained  quiet  only  while  he 
remained  about  them.  In  1637  the  three  colonies,  Massachu- 
setts, Plymouth  and  Connecticut,  agreed  to  enter  the  Indian 
country  with  their  joint  forces,  and  attempt  their  entire  des- 
truction. Massachusetts  sent  160  men,  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Israel  Stoughton  :  of  these  Boston  furnished  26.* 
Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor  of  Boston  accompanied  the  expedition 
as  chaplain  :  it  fell  to  his  part  by  lot,  and  he  is  represented  to 
have  gone  with  so  much  faith  and  joy,  that  he  professed  him- 
self as  fully  satisfied  that  God  would  give  the  English  the 
victory,  as  if  he  had  seen  it  already  obtained.  So  spirited 
and  so  prophetick  a  soothsayer  would  in  ancient  times  have 
received  the  highest  veneration.  His  predictions  were  ac- 
complished and  the  army  returned  in  triumph,  with  the  loss 
only  of  one  man,  August  26,  1637. 

In  the  next  year  after  this  expedition,  the  Ancient  and 
Honourable  Artillery  company  took  its  rise.  The  first  notice 
of  its  origin  appears  in  Gov.  Winthrop's  journal,  February, 
1638  :  '  Divers  gentlemen  and  others  being  joined  in  a  mili- 
tary company,  desired  to  be  made  a  corporation,  but  the 
council,  considering  from  the  example  of  the  Pretorian  band 
among  the  Romans,  and  the  Templars  in  Europe,  how  dan- 
gerous it  might  be  to  erect  a  standing  authority  of  military 
men,  which  might  easily  in  time  overtop  the  civil  power, 
thought  fit  to  stop  it  betimes,  yet  they  were  allowed  to  be 
a  company,  but  subordinate  to  all  authority.' 

From  this  note  we  should  infer,  that  the  associates  at  first 
asked  to  be  created  into  an  independent  company,  which  was 
deemed  inadvisable.  There  appears  to  have  been  no  objec- 
tion to  the  association  for  the  purpose  of  improvement  in  mili- 
tary tactics,  and  accordingly  we  find  the  company  recognized 
as  such  in  the  Colony  records  of  the  1 7th  March  1 638  :  '  The 
.Military  Company  of  Boston,  may  present  two  or  three  to  the 
council  to  choose  a  captain  out  of  them.'  Also  '  Capt. 
Keayne  and   the  Military  Company  have  power  to  exercise 


*  In  the  same  year  Boston  was  assessed  591.  4s.  of  a  tax  of  400Z.]    These  data  give  us  some 
idea  of  the  proportion  which  Boston  bore  to  the  whole  colony. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  85 

where  they  please,  and  to  make  use  of  so  many  of  the  common 
arms  as  they  need,  and  a  warrant  from  any  of  the  council  is 
sufficient  for  the  delivery  of  them  unto  Captain  Keayne  or 
such  as  he  shall  appoint.'  The  following  is  a  copy  of  their 
charter.* 

ORDERS 
for  the  Military  Company  made  by  the  Governour  and  Council,  and  confirmed  by  the  General 

Court. 

4  Whereas  divers  gentlemen  and  others,  out  of  their  care  of 
the  public  weal  and  safety,  by  the  advancement  of  the  milita- 
ry art,  and  exercise  of  arms,  have  desired  license  of  the  Court 
to  join  themselves  in  one  company,  and  to  have  the  liberty  to 
exercise  themselves,  as  their  occasions  will  best  permit ;  and 
that  such  liberties  and  privileges  might  be  granted  them,  as 
the  Court  should  think  meet,  for  their  better  encouragement 
and  furtherance,  in  so  useful  an  employment ;  which  request 
of  theirs  being  referred  by  the  Court  unto  us  of  the  Standing 
Council,  we  have  thought  fit,  upon  serious  consideration,  and 
conference  with  divers  of  the  principal  of  them,  to  set  down 
and  order  herein  as  followeth  : 

IMPRIMIS. 

We  do  order,  that  Robert  Keayne,  Nathaniel  Duncan,  Robert 
Sedgwick,  William  Spencer,  Gentlemen,  and  such  others  as  are 
already  joined  with  them,  and  such  as  they  shall  from  time 
to  time  take  into  their  company,  shall  be  called  the  Military 
Company  of  the  Massachusetts. 

SECONDLY. 

They,  or  the  greater  number  of  them,  shall  have  liberty  to 
choose  their  Captain,  Lieutenant,  and  all  other  officers.  Their 
Captain  and  Lieutenant  to  be  always  such  as  the  Court  or 
Council  shall  allow  of;  and  no  other  officer  be  put  upon  them, 
but  of  their  own  choice. 

THIRDLY. 

The  first  Monday  in  every  month  is  appointed  for  their 
meeting  and  exercise  ;  and  to  the  end  that  they  may  not  be 
hindered  from  coming  together,  we  do  hereby  order,  that  no 
other  training  in  the  particular  towns,  nor  other  ordinary 
town  meetings,  shall  be  appointed  on  that  day  ;  and  if  that 
day  prove  unseasonable  for  the  exercise  of  their  arms,  then 
the  sixth  of  the  same  week  is  appointed  for  supply.     This  not 


*  '  As  extracted  from  the  original  records  of  the  colony'  and  published  in  Whitman's  His- 
torical Sketch  of  the  Company — to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  a  fund  of  interesting  in- 
formation. Shaw  has  given  a  copy  which  contains  the  following  article  between  the  3d.  and 
4th.  '  None  of  the  said  Military  Company  (except  such  as  shall  be  officers  of  any  other  train- 
ed Tiand  in  any  particular  town)  shall  be  bound  to  give  attendance  upon  their  ordinary  train- 
ings.' 


8b  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON, 

to  extend  to  Salem,  or  the  towns  beyond,  nor  to  Hingham> 
Weymouth,  Dedham,  nor  Concord. 

FOURTHLY. 

They  have  liberty  and  power  to  make  orders  amongst  them- 
selves, for  the  better  managing  their  military  affairs ;  which 
orders  are  to  be  of  force,  when  they  shall  be  allowed  by  the 
Court  or  Council;  and  they  may  appoint  an  officer  to  levy 
any  fines  or  forfeitures,  which  they  shall  impose  upon  any  of 
their  own  company,  for  the  breach  of  any  such  order,  so  as 
the  same  exceed  not  twenty  shillings  for  any  one  offence. 

FIFTHLY. 

The  said  Military  Company  are  to  have  one  thousand  acres 
of  land,  (in  some  such  place  as  may  not  be  prejudicial  to  any 
plantation,)  to  be  granted  by  the  Court  to  some  of  the  said 
company,  and  such  as  shall  succeed  in  the  same;  to  be  im- 
proved by  them  within  a  time  convenient,  for  providing  ne- 
cessaries for  their  military  exercises,  and  defraying  of  other 
charges,  which  may  arise  hy  occasion  thereof. 

SIXTHLY. 

The  said  company  shall  have  liberty,  at  the  time  before 
appointed,  to  assemble  themselves  for  their  military  exercises, 
in  any  town  within  this  jurisdiction,  at  their  own  pleasure  ; 
provided  always,  that  this  order  or  grant,  or  any  thing  therein 
contained,  shall  not  extend  to  free  the  said  company,  or  any  of 
them,  their  persons  or  estates,  from  the  Civil  Government  and 
Jurisdiction  here  established. 

John  Winthrop,  Gov. 

Thomas  Dudley,  Dtp.  Gov. 

The  company  was  first  organized  on  the  first  Monday  in 
June,  1638 — when  Capt.  Robert  Keayne  was  elected  com- 
mander, Daniel  Hough,  lieutenant,  and  Joseph  Welde,  ensign. 
Of  the  two  last  we  have  no  information  :  Capt.  Keayne  was 
by  profession  a  merchant  tailor,  and  had  belonged  to  the  Hon- 
ourable Artillery  Company  in  London.  Many  important  of- 
fices and  trusts  were  committed  to  his  charge,  both  in  town 
and  state  affairs.  He  was  a  man  of  large  property,  was  fre- 
quently a  representative,  and  in  every  plan  for  improvement, 
or  enterprize,  his  name  appears  as  a  patron. 

Nathaniel  Duncan,  the  second  person  named  in  the  charter, 
was  a  merchant  and  lived  in  Dorchester.  Robert  Sedgwick, 
the  third  charter  member  and  next  on  the  roll,  belonged  to 
Charlestown :  he  was,  says  Johnson,  stout  and  active  in  all 
feats  of  war,  nurst  up  in  the  London's  Artillery  Garden,  be- 
sides having  the  help  of  a  very  good  head-piece.  He  was 
the  leader  of  the  first  train  band  formed  in  Charlestown,  and 
afterwards  was  promoted  to  the  highest  military  rank  in  the 
colony.     William  Spencer,  the  fourth  and  last  named  in  the 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  87 

charter,  was  also  a  merchant  and  resided  at  Cambridge. 
Thus  it  appears  the  charter  was  granted  to  four  persons,  re- 
siding each  in  a  different  town,  with  their  associates,  and  this 
may  serve  to  correct  a  mistaken  idea,  that  the  company  in  its 
origin  and  progress  has  been  confined  to  Boston. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  name  of  this  company,  which  is 
the  '  oldest  military  establishment  in  the  United  States,'  was 
by  their  charter  the  Military  Company  of  the  Massachusetts. 
The  names  of  the  Artillery  Company,  and  the  Great  Artillery, 
and  the  First  Artillery,  which  were  early  applied  to  it,  origi- 
nated from  the  introduction  of  field  pieces  into  their  exercise. 
The  General  Court  recognized  the  institution  by  the  name  of 
the  Artillery  Company  as  early  as  sixteen  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven.  The  oldest  printed  sermon,  delivered  on  their  anni- 
versary, June  3,  1672,  was  preached  "on  the  day  of  the  Ar- 
tillery Election."  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  sermon  1691,  in  his 
address  to  the  company  calls  them  the  Artillery  Company. 

Sept.  2,  1700.  The  title  Ancient  and  Honourable  is  first 
used  in  the  'original  records.'  All  the  sermons  printed  down 
to  1708,  bear  the  name  of  the  Artillery  Company  on  the  title 
page,  but  in  the  sermon  for  that  year  they  are  styled  the  Hon- 
ourable Artillery  Company.  This  is  uniformly  the  style  in 
the  title  pages  until  1738.  The  address  in  the  sermon  for 
1720,  uses  the  appellation  Ancient  and  Honourable,  and  in 
that  for  1737,  the  words  Ancient  and  Honourable  Artillery 
Company  are  once  introduced.  Dr.  Colman's  century  ser- 
mon, in  1738,  has  in  the  title  page  the  words  "preached  be- 
fore the  Honourable  and  Ancient  Artillery  Company."  From 
that  period  to  the  present  all  the  sermons  are  said  to  have 
been  preached  before  the  Ancient  and  Honourable  Artillery 
Company. 

The  records  of  the  company  do  not  mention  either  the 
words  Honourable  or  Ancient  until  long  after  these  appella- 
tions had  been  applied  to  them  by  the  publick.  The  present 
name  appears  but  once,  (in  1762,)  previous  to  the  year  1789, 
w'hen  the  company  was  revived  after  the  revolution  :  the 
Legislature  in  their  militia  laws  have  since  confirmed  it  to 
them.  It  is  therefore  probable  they  retained  the  name  of 
Artillery,  after  they  had  relinquished  the  use  of  field  pieces, 
by  common  consent.  The  addition  of  Honourable  was  made 
by  the  people,  in  regard  to  the  many  distinguished  men,  who 
had  belonged  to  and  commanded  it,  and  for  the  great  benefit 
and  service  the  institution  had  rendered  to  the  community. 
This  name  for  the  same  reason  they  continue  to  merit;  and 
the  term  Ancient  has  been  added  by  general  usage  since  the 
expiration  of  their  first  century,  with  that  sort  of  venera- 


88  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

tion  which   untarnished  reputation   always  ensures  to  gray 
hairs.* 

In  May  1639,  the  whole  military  of  the  Bay  were  mustered 
at  Boston  in  two  regiments,  to  the  number  of  a  thousand  sol- 
diers, able  men,  well  armed  and  exercised.  They  were  head- 
ed the  one  by  the  Governour  (Winthrop)  who  was  General  of 
all,  and  the  other  by  the  Deputy  who  was  colonel.  The  cap- 
tains and  others  showed  themselves  very  skilful  and  ready  in 
various  sorts  of  skirmishes  and  other  military  actions,  wherein 
they  spent  the  whole  day.'  We  notice  also  another  general 
training  in  Boston,  Sept.  15,  1641,  which  lasted  two  days. 
About  1200  men  were  exercised  in  most  sorts  of  land  service  ; 
yet  it  was  observed  that  there  was  no. man  drunk,  though 
there  was  plenty  of  wine  and  strong  beer  in  the  town — not  an 
oath  sworn,  no  quarrel,  nor  any  hurt  done.  A  more  lofty  but 
less  perspicuous  account  of  one  of  these  military  displays,  is 
given  in  a  narrative  of  the  first  thirty  years  by  Old  Planters. 
It  is  said  to  have  taken  place  at  Fox  Hill,  a  spot  of  rising 
ground,  which  formerly  existed  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common. 
The  pomp  and  circumstance  of  the  exhibition  were  so  striking 
that  some  people  entertained  fears,  lest  offence  might  be 
taken  in  the  parent  country,  as  if  the  colonists  were  (even 
then)  looking  up  to  a  state  of  independence. 

While  the  soldiery  at  home  were  thus  improving  themselves 
and  amusing  their  neighbours,  our  seamen  were  accidentally 
raising  the  fame  of  Boston  abroad.!  The  Viceroys  of  New 
Spain  and  Peru  having  advice  from  the  court  of  Spain,  that  the 
attempt  for  finding  a  Northwest  passage,  which  had  been 
tried  before  by  Capts.  Hudson  and  James,  was  again  attempt- 
ed in  1639  by  some  industrious  navigators  from  Boston,  de- 
spatched Admiral  de  Fonte  to  discover  and  seize  them.  He 
sailed  from  Lima  on  the  3d  of  April  1640.  On  the  17th  of 
July  about  lat.  61.  N.  he  came  to  an  Indian  town,  and  the 
natives  told  his  interpreter,  that  a  little  way  from  them  lay  a 
great  ship,  where  there  never  had  been  one  before.  He 
sailed  to  the  place  and  found  only  one  man  advanced  in  years, 
and  a  youth  :  the  man  exhibited  the  greatest  skill  in  the  me- 
chanical parts  of  the  mathematics  of  any  that  he  had  ever 
met.  They  informed  him  that  their  ship  was  of  New-Eng- 
land, from  a  town  called  Boston.  The  owner  and  the  whole 
ship's  company  came  on  board,  and  the  navigator  of  the  ship 
told  the  admiral  that  his  owner  was  a  fine  gentleman,  and  a 


*  See  Whitman's  Sketch,  p.   8—12.  104.    Mass.  H.  C.  2.  ii.  160.  185.  i.  xxix.    W.  W.  P. 
ch.  xxvi. 

t  Memoirs  of  the  Curious,  April  and  June  1708,  as  quoted  in  an  account  of  the  N.  W-  pas- 
sages, 1748. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  89 

Major  General  in  the  largest  colony  in  New-England,  called 
the  Massachusetts.  On  this  he  received  him  like  a  gentleman, 
and  told  him  his  commission  was  to  make  prize  of  any  people 
seeking  a  Northwest  or  West  passage  into  the  South  Sea,  but 
he  would  look  on  them  as  merchants  trading  with  the  natives 
for  beavers  and  otters  and  other  furs  and  skins;  and  so  for  a 
small  present  of  provisions  which  he  had  no  need  of,  he  gave 
him  a  diamond  ring  that  cost  him  1200  pieces  of  eight,  which 
the  modest  gentleman  received  with  difficulty;  and  having 
given  the  brave  navigator  Capt.  Shapely  for  his  fine  chart 
and  journals  a  thousand  pieces  of  eight,  and  the  owner  of  the 
ship,  Seimor  Gibbons,  a  quarter  cask  of  good  Peruan  wine, 
and  the  ten  seamen  each  20  pieces  of  eight,  they  set  sail  on 
a  farther  expedition.  The  behaviour  of  Admiral  de  Fonte 
evinced  great  politeness.  He  might  have  taken  Shapely's 
charts  forcibly,  but  chose  to  give  a  considerable  price  for 
them,  on  pretence  that  they  were  curious,  when  the  true 
reason  was  that  they  might  not  be  used  as  guides  to  others. 

This  story  is  solemnly  related  by  the  Admiral  with  every 
particular,  and  has  been  copied  into  foreign  works  with  the 
remark  that  the  ardour  of  enterprize  at  that  period  seemed  to 
have  passed  from  the  English  to  their  colonists  at  Boston.*  It 
probably  originated  in  the  following  simple  fact,t  out  of  which 
the  Magnalia  makes  a  story  as  doleful  as  the  foregoing  is  im- 
probable. About  this  time  came  home  a  small  pinnace  of  30 
tons  which  had  been  gone  eight  months  and  was  given  up  for 
lost.  She  went  to  Bermuda,  but  by  continual  tempests  was 
kept  from  hence  and  forced  to  bear  up  for  the  W.  Indies,  and 
being  in  great  distress  arrived  at  Hispaniola,  and  not  daring 
to  go  into  any  inhabited  place  there,  the  men  went  ashore  in 
obscure  places  and  lived  on  turtles  and  eggs.  At  last  they 
were  forced  into  a  harbour,  where  lay  a  French  man-of-war 
with  his  prize,  and  had  surely  made  prize  of  them  also,  but 
that  the  captain,  one  Petfree,  had  lived  at  Piscataqua,  and 
knew  the  merchant  of  our  bark,  one  Mr.  Gibbons :  whereupon 
he  used  them  courteously,  and  for  such  commodities  as  she 
carried,  furnished  her  with  tallow  and  hides,  and  sent  home 
with  her  his  prize,  which  he  sold  for  a  small  price  to  be  paid 
in  New  England. 

Mr.  Gibbons  brought  home  an  Alligator,  which  he  gave  to 
the  Governour.  This  may  be  recollected  as  the  first  thing  of 
the  kind  exhibited  here ;  since  which  almost  every  living 
thing  has  found  its  way  to  Boston. 


*  See  Hist.  Gen.  de.  Voyages,  1757,  torn.  15.  p.  161, 
t  IPinthrop,  June  1637.    Magnalia  2.  297. 

12 


90  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  house  of  God 
They  first  ve-edify,  and  for  a  while 
In  mean  estate  live  moderate Par.  Losh 

The  temper  of  these  early  times  is  manifest  in  the  continued 
care  of  the  court  to  guard  against  extravagance  in  dress.  Mr. 
Cotton's  lectures  against  veils  appear  to  have  been  soon  for- 
gotten. Some  of  the  magistrates  imagined  that  the  women 
indulged  themselves  in  too  much  expense.  They  accordingly 
conferred  with  the  ministers  on  the  subject,  and  charged  them 
to  address  themselves  to  the  consciences  of  their  hearers. 
The  ministers  promised  a  compliance,  but  it  was  found  that 
so  many  of  their  own  and  the  elders'  wives  participated  in 
the  fault,  that  there  could  be  little  hope  of  reformation  through 
this  means. 

The  appetite  as  well  as  the  fondness  for  dress  was  put 
under  restraint.  Colony  records,  Nov.  1637:  No  person  shall 
sell  any  cakes  or  bunns  either  in  the  market  or  victualling 
houses,  or  elsewhere,  upon  pain  of  ten  shillings  fine,  provided, 
that  this  order  shall  not  extend  to  such  cakes  as  shall  be 
made  for  any  burial,  or  marriage,  or  such  like  special  occa- 
sion. 

A  lesson  on  morals  may  be  taken  from  a  circumstance 
which  happened  in  the  year  1639.  At  the  General  Court 
holden  in  November,  great  complaint  was  made  of  the  op- 
pression suffered  by  the  people  in  the  purchase  of  foreign 
commodities.  Capt.  Keayne,  who  kept  a  shop  in  Boston  was 
notoriously  above  others  observed,  and  charged  with  such 
particulars  as  these  ;  for  taking  in  some  cases  above  six  pence 
in  the  shilling  profit,  in  some  above  eight  pence,  and  in  others 
two  for  one.  He  was  convicted  and  fined.  After  the  court 
had  censured  him,  he  was  called  to  account  by  the  church. 
He  acknowledged  his  fault  with  tears  and  bewailed  his  cove- 
tous and  corrupt  heart,  and  a  partial  defence  was  set  up  by 
him  or  his  friends,  on  the  ground  that  if  a  man  lost  in  one 
commodity,  he  might  make  it  up  in  another,  and  that  if 
through  ignorance  a  man  had  given  more  for  an  article  than  it 
was  worth  in  Europe,  he  might  sell  it  for  more  than  it  was 
worth  in  New-England. 


HISTOY    OF   BOSTON.  91 

Some  of  the  members  were  earnest  to  have  Capt.  Keayne 
excommunicated,  but  Mr.  Cotton  did  not  consider  his  offence 
to  be  of  that  nature  which  is  condemned  in  the  scriptures, 
and  he  was  excused  with  a  simple  admonition,  on  the  presump- 
tion that  his  errour  was  rather  in  his  judgment  than  in  his 
heart :  for  he  was  otherwise  a  liberal  man,  very  hospitable 
and  generous  in  his  contributions  towards  the  church  expen- 
ses. What  would  have  been  the  effect  on  the  mercantile 
character  of  Boston,  if  the  rigour  exercised  in  this  case  had 
continued  to  be  exercised  to  this  day,  we  leave  the  reader  to 
surmise. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1639,  the  congregation  medi- 
tated the  rebuilding  of  their  house  of  worship.  The  old  one 
which  was  erected  in  1632,  not  only  having  become  decayed, 
but  being  also  too  small  to  accommodate  the  people,  there 
was  no  question  about  the  necessity  of  a  new  house,  but  a 
wide  and  warm  difference  of  opinion  respecting  where  it 
should  stand.  Some  of  the  brethren  were  for  placing  it  on 
what  was  then  called  the  green,  which  was  Gov.  Winthrop's 
first  lot,  and  he  had  yielded  it  to  the  church.  There  is  rea- 
son to  suppose  this  was  the  lot  which  the  Old  South  church 
now  owns,  at  the  corner  of  Milk  and  Washington  streets. 
Others,  particularly  the  tradesmen,  were  inclined  to  build  it 
still  nearer  the  market  than  where  the  old  one  stood,  lest  in 
time  it  should  divert  the  chief  trade  from  thence.  The  church 
referred  it  to  the  judgment  and  determination  of  a  committee 
of  five,  who  agreed  that  it  ought  to  be  placed  near  the  mar- 
ket, but  still  for  peace  sake  they  proposed  it  should  be  decid- 
ed by  lot.  When  the  church  met,  the  matter  was  debated 
with  some  earnestness,  and  at  last  Mr.  Cotton  thought  proper 
to  express  his  opinion.  He  made  it  clear  that  it  would  be 
injurious  to  remove  to  the  green,  as  many  persons  had  pur- 
chased and  settled  round  the  market  in  the  expectation  of 
being  accommodated  in  their  proximity  to  the  place  of  wor- 
ship, whereas  it  would  be  no  damage  to  the  most  to  have  it 
by  the  market-place.  It  was  finally  determined  with  a  good 
degree  of  harmony  to  erect  the  new  church  on  the  plat  which 
is  now  covered  by  the  block  of  buildings  in  Cornhill-square.* 


*  We  find  no  records  of  the  dimensions  of  this  house  :  that  it  had  a  gallery  is  certain, 
and  that  it  was  furnished  with  a  bell  is  probable  from  these  records  on   the  town  books ! 

1643.  March  27.  Sgt.  Johnson  and  Walter  Merry  are  requested  to  take  ye  oversight  of  the 
boyes  in  ye  galleryes  and  in  case  of  unruly  disorders  to  acquaint  the  magistrates  there- 
with. 

1649.  June  26.  '  Richard  Taylor  is  appointed  to  ring  the  bell  at  nine  of  the  clock  at  night, 
and  at  half  past  four  in  the  morning,  at  four  pounds  per  annum.'  This  may  be  considered  the 
origin  of  our  nine  o'clock  bell* 

Hingham  meeting-house,  which  is  said  to  have  been  built  on  the  same  model,  has  a  bel- 
fry in  the  centre  of  the  roof. 


92  HISTORY   OF    BOSTON. 

The  contractors  for  the  work  calculated  that  it  would  cost 
£600.  They  took  the  old  house  for  half  that  sum,  and  the 
balance  was  to  be  supplied  by  voluntary  contributions  of  the 
people.  The  building  however  cost  about  £1000,  yet  the  ex- 
pense was  defrayed  without  any  murmurs  or  assessment,  by 
weekly  collections.  '  In  some  other  churches,'  says  the  Gov- 
ernour,  '  which  did  it  by  way  of  rates  there  was  much  diffi- 
culty and  compulsion  by  law  to  raise  a  far  less  sum.'  It  is 
pleasing  to  see  in  this  incident  how  early  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton adopted  the  practice  of  supporting  religion  without  re- 
course to  law.  Mr.  Cotton  had  before  this  time  advanced 
the  doctrine,  that  Avhen  magistrates  are  obliged  to  provide  for 
the  maintenance  of  ministers,  the  churches  are  in  a  declining 
condition  ;  and  proved  in  a  sermon  that  the  preachers  of  the 
gospel  should  be  supported  not  by  lands,  revenues  and  tithes, 
which  are  the  occasion  of  pride,  contention  and  sloth,  but  by 
the  voluntary  contributions  of  their  hearers.  Their  manner 
of  taking  these  contributions  was  different  from  ours  at  the 
present  day.  Instead  of  the  deacons  passing  the  box  to  every 
one,  and  subjecting  all  to  the  tax  of  a  groat  or  the  mortifica- 
tion of  a  nod,  '  the  Governour  and  all  the  rest'  went  down  and 
put  their  mites  into  the  box  at  the  deacons'  seat. 

The  religious  society  was  now  in  a  prosperous  state.  That 
disaffection  which  all,  save  five  or  six  of  the  members,  had  for- 
merly manifested  towards  the  pastor  and  Mr.  Winthrop  had 
happily  subsided,  and  all  was  tranquillity  and  love.  A  while 
since,  these  gentlemen  were  treated  with  slight  as  men  under 
a  covenant  of  works  and  as  the  greatest  enemies  of  the  truth. 
But  under  these  suspicions  and  cool  treatment,  they  had  be- 
haved with  great  meekness,  never  complaining  of  unkind  usage. 
Though  often  and  strongly  solicited  to  withdraw  themselves 
from  the  communion,  they  had  withstood  the  solicitation  until 
now  the  odium  which  was  upon  them  had  gradually  worn 
away,  and  they  found  themselves  in  possession  of  the  wonted 
confidence  and  affection  of  their  friends.  The  Governour  in 
particular  had  a  proof  of  the  returning  love  of  the  brethren 
when  suffering  a  heavy  loss  through  the  delinquency  of  one 
Luxford,  his  bailiff,  to  whom  he  trusted  the  management  of 
his  farm,  and  who  incurred  a  debt  of  £2300  without  his  know- 
ledge. The  whole  country  indeed  sympathized  with  him; 
the  Court  gave  his  wife  3000  acres  of  land  and  some  of  the 
towns  sent  in  liberally.  The  whole  however  did  not  amount 
to  £500  whereof  near  half  came  from  Boston. 

Many  of  the  poor  to  whom  lots  were  assigned  in  Mt.  Wolas- 
ton,  finding  it  inconvenient  to  improve  their  lands  there  while 
they  resided  in  Boston,  petitioned  the  town  for  leave  to  form 
a  church  at  the  mount,  which  was  eventually  allowed  on  cer- 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  93 

tain  conditions.  So  on  Monday  the  16th  of  September,  1639, 
they  gathered  a  church  in  the  usual  manner,  and  chose  Mr. 
William  Thomson,  a  pious  and  learned  minister,  who  was  or- 
dained their  pastor  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month.  Mr.  Hen- 
ry Flint  was  chosen  teacher.  The  church  was  the  twenti- 
eth formed  in  the  colony.  This  was  a  principal  step  towards 
the  final  separation,  and  the  erection  of  a  town  in  that  place. 

As  early  as  Dec.  10,  1636,  measures  had  been  adopted  to- 
wards accomplishing  the  separation.  '  The  Governour  (Vane) 
Dep.  Gov.  (Winthrop)  Messrs.  Oliver,  Keayne,  John  Newgate, 
Colburn,  Coggeshall  and  Brenton,  are  chosen  to  consider  of 
the  Mt.  Wolaston  business;  how  they  may  be  a  town  and 
ehurch  there  with  the  consent  of  this  town's  inhabitants.'  On 
Jan.  17th  1640,  the  consent  of  Boston  was  voted  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms.  '  It  was  agreed  with  our  neighbours  and  breth- 
ren of  the  Mount,  namely,  William  Cheeseborough,  Alexander 
Winchester,  Richard  Wright,  James  Penniman,  Stephen  Kins- 
ley and  Martin  Saunders,  in  the  name  of  the  rest  there,  for 
whom  they  undertake,  that  they  should  give  to  this  town  of 
Boston  towards  the  maintenance  [of  the  ministers]  thereof  As. 
an  acre  for  every  two  acres  of  the  seven  acres  formerly  granted 
to  divers  y"  of  Boston,  upon  expectation  they  should  have  con- 
tinued with  us :  and  3s.  an  acre  for  every  acre  that  hath  been  or 
shall  be  granted  to  any  others  who  are  not  inhabitants  of  Bos- 
ton. And  that  in  consideration  hereof  and  after  that  the  said 
portions  of  money  shall  be  paid  to  this  town's  treasury  of  Bos- 
ton, all  the  said  land  shall  be  free  from  any  town  rates  or 
charges  to  Boston,  and  also  from  all  country  charges  when 
the  Mount  shall  be  rated  by  the  court  and  not  assessed  with 
the  town  of  Boston  ;  and  upon  these  terms  if  the  court  shall 
think  fit  to  grant  them  to  be  a  town  of  themselves  they  shall 
have  free  liberty  to  accept  thereof.* 

Feb.  13,  1640,  at  a  General  Court  the  petition  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Mt.  Wolaston  was  voted  and  granted  them  to  be  a 
town  according  to  the  agreement  with  Boston  :  provided  if 
they  fulfil  not  the  covenant,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  Boston 
to  recover  their  due  by  action  against  the  said  inhabitants, 
or  any  of  them,  and  the  town  is  to  be  called  Braintree. 

In  February  1792,  the  people  of  the  first  parish  in  Brain- 
tree  petitioned  to  be  made  a  distinct  town,  and  were  incorpo- 
rated by  the  name  of  Quincy.  This  name  was  adopted  in 
honour  of  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  considerable  proprie- 
tors at  the  Mount.  December  14,  1635,  a  committee  of  five 
persons  were  appointed  to  go  to  Mt.  W.  and  bound  out  lots 
for  Mr.  Edmund  Quincy  and  Mr.  Coddington,  '  what  may  be 


*  See  town  records  June  26,  1649.    Also  Appendix  No.  III.     Winthrop,  Sept.  163G. 


94  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

sufficient  for  them  :'  in  1636,  March  14,  the  bounds  are  re- 
corded. Mr.  Coddington  appears  to  have  given  his  to  Brain- 
tree  for  the  support  of  schools  ;  the  lot  assigned  to  Mr.  Quincy 
remains  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  descendants,  the  pre- 
sent mayor  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Quincy  was  descended  from  that  Sieur  de  Quincy  who 
was  one  of  the  English  barons  that  made  that  noble  stand,  in 
the  year  1215,  which  obliged  King  John  to  grant  the  Magna 
Charta.  He  with  his  wife  joined  the  church  in  Boston,  Nov. 
1633:  within  a  short  time  five  servants  belonging  to  his  fami- 
ly also  became  members.  He  was  a  representative  in  1634, 
and  died  here,  aged  about  thirty-three.  His  son  Edmund 
who  was  born  in  1628,  settled  in  Braintree  and  was  a  gentle- 
man of  distinction  among  the  fathers  of  that  town  :  he  died 
Jan.  7,  1698,  leaving  a  son  Edmund,  who  was  born  and  resid- 
ed at  Braintree,  and  was  a  bright  ornament  and  eminent  ben- 
efactor of  that  town  and  of  his  country.* 

Hubbard  pronounces  the  ten  years  which  were  now  (1640) 
closing,  the  golden  age  of  New-England,  when  vice  was  crush- 
ed as  well  by  the  civil  as  sacred  sword,  especially  oppression 
and  extortion  in  prices  and  wages.  A  remarkable  instance 
was  given  in  one  F.  P.  who  for  asking  an  excessive  price  for 
a  pair  of  stocks  which  he  was  hired  to  frame,  had  the  honour 
to  sit  an  hour  in  them  first  himself.!  Women  were  not  ex- 
empt from  publick  notice.  One  for  reproaching  the  mag- 
istrates was  condemned  to  be  whipped,  and  bore  her  pun- 
ishment with  a  masculine  spirit,  glorying  in  her  suffering. 
She  was  a  woman  of  abilities  far  before  Mrs.  Hutchinson, 
but  she  wjas  poor  and  had  little  acquaintance.  The  free  ex- 
pression of  her  thoughts  brought  her  again  into  difficulties  for 
speaking  against  the  elders,  and  she  was  obliged  to  stand  half 
an  hour  with  her  tongue  in  a  cleft  stick.  Church  discipline 
reached  to  still  nicer  points  :  one  brother  '  having  purloined 
out  of  buckskin  leather  brought  unto  him,  so  much  thereof  as 
would  make  three  men's  gloves,  to  the  scandal  of  sundry 
without  as  well  as  of  his  brethren,  and  also  having  been  by 
some  of  the  brethren  dealt  with  for  it,  did  often  deny  and  for- 
swear the  same,  and  was  therefore  cast  out  of  the  church.' 


*  Hancock's  century  sermon,  17S9,  rep.  1811,  and  sermon  on  death  of  Hon.  Edmund  Quin- 
cy, 1738.    EHofs  Biog.  Diet. 

t  See   Huhoard,  243,  276.    Emerson's  Hist.  Sketch,   60—67.     Winthrop,s  Jo.  Dec.  1638. 
Sept.  and  Nov.  1G39.    Feb.  1640.    Shaw,  239.    Mass.  H.  C.  I.  x.  2. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  95 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

Let  discipline  employ  her  wholesome  arts  ; 

Let  magistrates  alert  perform  their  parts, 

Let  active  laws  apply  the  needful  curb, 

To  guard  the  peace  that  riot  would  disturb. — Cowper. 

From  the  time  of  a  permanent  establishment  of  a  house  of 
deputies  or  representatives  in  1634,  to  the  court  of  election  in 
1639,  Boston  had  the  privilege  of  sending  three  members.  At 
that  court,  May  22,  in  consequence  of  the  increase  of  the 
number  of  deputies  with  the  increase  of  the  number  of  towns, 
it  was  determined  for  the  convenience  both  of  the  country  and 
the  court,  to  reduce  all  towns  to  two  deputies.  The  expenses 
were  at  that  time  paid  out  of  the  public  treasury.  This  alter- 
ation excited  some  suspicions.  Many  were  jealous  that  it 
was  a  plan  of  the  assistants  and  magistrates  to  keep  the  num- 
ber of  deputies  on  a  nearer  equality  with  their  own;  and  the 
people  in  some  towns  were  highly  displeased  with  their  re- 
presentatives for  consenting  to  the  measure.  A  motion  was 
made  in  the  next  session  to  return  to  the  former  rule  ;  but 
after  long  debate,  the  order  was  confirmed,  and  the  reasons  for 
it,  and  answers  to  the  objections  against  it,  wTere  recorded,  and 
sent  to  such  towns  as  were  dissatisfied.  From  that  period 
until  1680,  Boston  sent  only  two  deputies. 

An  incident  occurred  in  Boston,  hardly  worthy  of  notice, 
which  gave  rise  to  a  change  also  in  regard  to.  the  Assistants. 
A  thoughtless  pig  strayed  from  its  owner,  one  good  Mrs. 
Sherman ;  and,  her  husband  not  being  at  home  to  look  after 
the  creature,  it  wandered  through  the  town,  breaking  into 
every  body's  corn  as  its  hunger  dictated.  About  the  same 
time  a  stray  pig  was  brought  to  Capt.  Keayne,  who  had  it 
cried  a  number  of  days,  and  many  people  came  to  see  it,  but 
no  one  would  claim  the  property.  He  kept  it  in  his  yard  for 
nearly  a  year  with  a  pig  of  his  own.  At  the  proper  season 
the  captain  had  the  latter  killed.  This  was  no  sooner  done 
than  forward  came  Mrs.  Sherman,  and  claimed  the  dead  pig 
for  hers,  because  she  found  that  the  living  one  had  other 
marks :  she  went  so  far  as  to  accuse  the  captain  of  wilfully 
killing  her  pig.  The  matter  made  so  much  noise  that  the 
church  investigated  it  and  were  satisfied  of  his   innocence. 


96  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  woman  however  was  instigated  to  bring  the  cause  before 
an  inferior  court  at  Boston :  there  again  Capt.  Keayne  was 
cleared,  and  the  jury  gave  him  £3  for  his  costs,  and  in  an 
action  brought  by  him  against  her  and  her  instigator  for 
defamation,  he  recovered  £20  damages  from  each. 

This  result  so  vexed  Story,  a  London  merchant,  who  was 
the  woman's  adviser,  that  he  searched  town  and  country  to 
find  matter  against  Capt.  Keayne  about  this  stray  pig.  At 
last  he  prevailed  with  one  of  the  captain's  witnesses  to  go  into 
Salem  court  and  confess  that  he  had  forsworn  himself. 
Upon  this  he  petitioned  the  General  Court,  in  June  1642,  to 
to  have  the  cause  heard  again,  which  the  court  granted  and 
spent  the  best  part  of  seven  days  in  examining  witnesses  and 
debating  the  case.  Yet  when  the  question  was  put  to  vote, 
no  decision  could  be  obtained ;  for  no  sentence  of  law  could 
pass  without  the  consent  of  the  majority,  both  of  the  deputies 
and  of  the  magistrates,  and  here  were  thirty  deputies  and  nine 
magistrates,  of  whom  two  of  the  magistrates  and  fifteen  of  the 
deputies  were  for  the  plaintiff,  and  seven  of  the  magistrates 
and  eight  of  the  deputies  for  the  defendant,  and  seven  deputies 
standing  neutral.  There  had  been  great  expectation  in  the 
country  that  the  case  would  terminate  unfavourably  to  Capt. 
Keayne.  It  happening  otherwise,  many  took  occasion  to  speak 
disrespectfully  of  the  court,  especially  of  the  magistrates,  and 
to  attribute  the  hindrance  of  the  course  of  justice  to  their  ex- 
ercise of  a  negative  voice  upon  the  doings  of  the  deputies. 
Some  were  of  a  mind  that  this  power  of  a  negative  should  be 
taken  from  the  assistants.  Nothing  was  effected  at  this  time, 
but  occasions  of  altercation  becoming  more  frequent,  and  the 
deputies  being  dissatisfied  that  their  votes  should  lose  their 
effect,  by  the  non-concurrence  of  the  magistrates  who  were 
so  much  fewer  .in  number,  a  formal  attempt  was  made  in 
1644,  to  diminish  or  destroy  the  power  of  the  latter.  Mr. 
Winthrop  and  the  assistants  maintained  their  right  with  so 
much  firmness,  that  the  effort  was  unavailing  ;  and  it  was 
therefore  moved  by  the  deputies,  that  the  two  houses  might 
sit  apart,  and  from  that  time  votes  were  sent  in  a  parliamen- 
tary way  from  one  house  to  the  other,  and  the  consent  of  both 
was  necessary  to  an  act  of  court.  Provision  was  made  for 
some  cases  in  which,  if  the  two  houses  differed,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  major  vote  of  the  whole  should  be  decisive.  This 
was  the  origin  of  our  present  Senate. 

Mrs.  Sherman's  pig  might  have  been  forgotten  in  the  great- 
er interest  excited  by  the  difficulties  it  produced.  But  she 
possessed  perseverance  superior  to  that  of  Amy  Dardin,  in 
more  modern  times,  and  at  length  the  captain  yielded  to  the 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  97 

advice  of  friends,  and  relinquished  the  living  pig  to  the  wo- 
man, for  the  sake  of  the  publick  peace.* 

The  Boston  church  enjoying  harmony  within  itself  could 
not  forget  its  members,  who  had  left  their  places  in  the  Anti- 
nomian  controversy.  In  March  1640,  they  sent  a  deputation 
of  three  gentlemen  to  Rhode  Island,  with  letters  to  Mr.  Cod- 
dington  and  the  rest,  to  inquire  into  their  opinions  on  certain 
points  of  doctrine  formerly  maintained  by  them,  and  also  to 
demand  that  they  should  give  an  account  of  themselves  to  this 
church,  for  their  unwarrantable  practice  of  communing  with 
excommunicated  persons.  When  the  messengers  arrived, 
they  found  that  these  people  had  formed  a  church  among 
themselves,  and  had  the  independence  to  refuse  to  hear  the 
messengers  as  such,  or  to  receive  the  Boston  letters.  When 
the  result  of  the  mission  was  submitted  to  the  church,  the  el- 
ders and  most  of  the  church  were  disposed  to  pass  a  vote  of 
exclusion  against  them,  '  but  all  not  being  agreed,  it  was  de- 
ferred.' Mr.  Emerson  observes,  the  mission  was  worse  than 
useless  :  it  served  to  foment  a  party  spirit  at  home,  and  to  ex- 
asperate the  minds  of  those  for  whose  benefit  the  measure  was 
intended. 

In  the  year  1640,  Mr.  Dudley  was  chosen  governour,  and 
Mr.  Bellingham,  deputy-governour,  Mr.  Winthrop,  the  former 
governour,  being  elected  an  assistant.  The  election  in  1641, 
notwithstanding  the  number  of  votes  was  great,  was  determin- 
ed in  favour  of  Mr.  Bellingham  for  governour  (Mr.  Winthrop 
being  his  competitor)  by  a  majority  of  six  votes  only.  Mr. 
Endicott  was  chosen  deputy-governour.  It  was  disputed 
whether  they  fairly  had  the  majority,  because  the  votes  of 
some  persons  were  refused,  who  it  was  thought  had  a  right 
to  vote.  Mr.  Winthrop  was  silent,  though  he  believed  himself 
injured. 

The  revolutions  which  were  now  taking  place  in  England 
excited  the  attention  of  the  colonial  government,  and  it  was 
determined  to  send  three  agents  thither,  to  congratulate  the 
parliament  on  their  successes,  and  to  be  ready  to  improve 
any  opportunity  which  might  offer  for  the  advantage  of  the 
colony.  The  men  selected  for  this  purpose  were  Rev.  Messrs. 
Weld  and  Peters,  and  Mr.  William  Hibbins.  The  two  for- 
mer never  returned  to  America.  Mr.  Hibbins  was  a  princi- 
pal merchant  in  the  colony,  and  was  the  first  town  treasurer 
of  Boston  whose  name  appears  on  record.] 


*  Hutch.  Hist.  cb.  1.    Winthrop,  June  1642.  March  1644.  Town  records,  Sept.  17, 1638. 
M  r.  Winthrop's  account   would  lead  us  to  infer  that  Capt.  Keayne  repaid  the  3/.  costs, 
which  was  all  that  he  received  of  the  woman ;  the  pig1  was  worth  forty  shillings.  - 
t  Town  records,  April  27,  1610.    Mass.  H.  C.  1.  x.  SO. 

13 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


In  the  years  1642  and  1643,  Mr.  Winthrop  was  chosen 
governour  and  Mr.  Endicott,  deputy.  In  the  latter  year,  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts  was  divided  into  four  counties,  Essex, 
Middlesex,  Suffolk  and  Norfolk. 


Essex  contained 

Middlesex. 

Suffolk. 

Norfolk. 

Salem 

Charlestown 

Boston 

Salisbury 

Lynn 

Cambridge 

ltoxbury 

Haverhill 

Enon  (Wenham) 

Watertown 

Dorchester 

Hampton 

Ipswich 

Sudbury 

Dedham 

Exeter 

Rowley 

Concord 

Brainlree 

Dover 

Newbury 

Woburn 

Weymouth 

Strawberry-Bank 

Gloucester 

Medford 

Hingham 

(Portsmouth) 

Chochickawick 

Lynn  Village 

Nantasket  (Hull) 

The  four  last  towns  are  now  in  New-Hampshire. 

At  the  election  in  1644,  Messrs.  Winthrop  and  Endicott  ex- 
changed places  ;  the  latter  being  chosen  for  governour,  and  the 
former  for  deputy.  This  success  of  Mr.  Endicott  was  pecu- 
liarly gratifying  to  'those  of  Essex.'  Salem  had  become  a 
very  flourishing  place,  and  it  was  a  favourite  object  with  Mr. 
Endicott  to  have  that  town  considered  the  capital  of  the  state. 
The  Essex  deputies  had  introduced  a  measure  at  the  court 
previous,  by  which  the  deputies  of  the  several  counties  were 
directed  to  meet  in  the  recess  and  prepare  such  business  as  it 
might  be  necessary  to  transact.  Under  this  order  they  came 
prepared,  and  introduced  two  bills,  the  object  of  which  was  to 
aggrandize  their  own  section  of  the  country  by  drawing  1. 
the  seat  of  government  thither  :  2.  the  courts  :  and  3.  a  good 
part  of  the  country  stock.  They  also  proposed,  4thly,  that 
four  of  their  neighbourhood  should  be  joined  in  commission 
with  the  magistrates.  '  They  had  made  so  strong  a  party 
among  the  deputies  of  the  smaller  towns,  (being  most  of  them 
mean  men,  and  such  as  had  small  understanding  in  affairs  of 
state)  that  they  easily  carried  all  their  points  among  the  depu- 
ties. But  when  the  two  bills  came  up  to  the  magistrates, 
they  discerning  the  plot  and  finding  them  hurtful  to  the  com- 
monwealth, refused  to  pass  them.  A  committee  from  each 
house  was  appointed  to  consider  the  reasons  of  both  sides,  and 
then  the  opinion  of  the  upper  house  prevailed  :'  '  Boston  be- 
ing such  a  convenient  mart  for  business,  and  other  circumstan- 
ces concurring  to  increase  its  population,  obtained  the  prefer- 
ence,' and  thereafter  '  all  hopes  were  renounced  that  Salem 
would  become  the  capital  of  New-England.* 

We  shall  find  the  authorities  here  acquiescing  under  every 
change  of  government  which  occurred  during  the  civil  wars 


Winthrop,  June  5, 1644.    Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  1.  vi.  232—234.    Eliot.  Biog.  Diet.  195. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  99 

in  England.  The  parliament  prevailing  this  year,  the  Gene- 
ral Court  passed  an  order  which  contains  the  following  article ; 
'  what  person  soever  shall  by  word,  writing  or  action,  endea- 
vour to  disturb  our  peace  directly  or  indirectly,  by  drawing  a 
party  under  pretence  that  he  is  for  the  King  of  England,  and 
such  as  join  with  him  against  the  parliament,  shall  be  account- 
ed as  an  offender  of  a  high  nature  against  this  common™ with, 
and  to  be  proceeded  against  either  capitally  or  otherwise  ac- 
cording to  the  quality  and  degree  of  his  offence.'  A  provision 
was  annexed  that  this  order  should  not  be  extended  against  any 
that  came  hither  merely  for  purposes  of  trade.  Very  soon  after 
the  passing  of  this  order,  a  London  ship  of  24  guns,  Capt. 
Stagg,  arrived  at  Boston  with  a  cargo  of  wine  from  Teneriffe. 
A  Bristol  ship  of  100  tons,  laden  with  fish,  lay  in  the  harbour 
at  the  same  time.  Captain  Stagg  said  nothing  of  having  any 
commission,  but  as  soon  as  he  had  landed  the  principal  part 
of  his  wine,  he  suddenly  weighed  anchor  and  sailed  round  to 
Charlestown,  placed  his  ship  between  that  town  and  the  Bris- 
tol ship,  and  moored  himself  abreast  of  her.  He  then  order- 
ed the  master  of  the  Bristol  ship  aboard,  showed  him  a  com- 
mission, turned  up  a  half-hour  glass,  and  demanded  that  he 
should  surrender  by  the  time  the  glass  was  out.  The  Bristol 
captain  returned  to  his  own  vessel  and  stated  the  case  to  his 
men  ;  two  or  three  of  them  were  for  fighting,  and  would  rather 
have  blown  up  the  ship  than  have  yielded,  but  the  greater  part 
thought  best  to  secure  their  property  and  wages,  which  Capt. 
S.  promised  them,  as  well  as  their  lives,  and  the  ship  was 
therefore  surrendered. 

In  this  half  hour's  time  a  great-many  people  were  gathered 
upon  the  Windmill  hill  (Copp's  hill)  to  see  the  issue,  and  as 
was  very  natural,  some  who  had  an  interest  in  the  prize  ship 
(especially  a  Bristol  merchant,  a  very  bold  malignant,  in  the 
phrase  of  the  times)  began  to  collect  a  mob  and  raise  a  tumult. 
But  some  of  the  inhabitants,  apprehensive  of  serious  consequen- 
ces, seized  the  said  merchant  and  some  others  that  were  stran- 
gers and  brought  them  before  the  deputy,  Mr.  Winthrop,  who 
put  them  under  guard  in  a  room  at  a  publick  house.  Others  who 
belonged  to  town  he  committed  to  prison,  and  sent  the  consta- 
ble to  require  the  people  to  disperse.  Capt.  Stagg  was  im- 
mediately called  to  account,  and  produced  his  commission 
from  the  parliament,  which  was  found  to  give  him  sufficient 
authority  to  make  prize  of  all  Bristol  vessels  in  any  port  or 
creek. 

Great  excitement  was  produced  by  this  occurrence.  Some 
of  the  ministers  partook  of  the  common  feeling,  and  in  their 
sermons  inveighed  against  the  captain,  and  exhorted  the  mag- 
istrates and  all  concerned  to  maintain  the  people's  liberties, 
which  they  said  were  violated  by  this  act.     Many  were  of 


100  HISTORY    OE   BOSTON. 

opinion  that  Capt.  Stagg  should  be  compelled  to  restore  the 
ship  ';  but  the  majority  of  the  magistrates  were  of  a  different 
opinion,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  seem  like  an  opposition 
to  parliament.  For  this  and  other  reasons  of  state,  the  cap- 
tain was  suffered  to  enjoy  his  prize.  The  merchants  who 
were  interested  in  the  property  on  board  the  Bristol  vessel 
petitioned  to  try  their  right  by  an  action  at  law,  which  was 
granted :  but  when  the  governour  and  six  other  magistrates 
(for  the  governour  did  not  send  for  such  as  dwelt  far  off)  and 
the  jury  were  assembled,  the  merchants  were  persuaded  not 
to  insist  on  the  case  being  submitted  to  the  jury,  but  to  refer 
the  decision  of  the  whole  matter  to  the  court  of  admiralty, 
before  which  the  case  must  necessarily  come.  Thus  an  affair, 
which  in  its  outset  threatened  to  produce  no  small  trouble,  end- 
ed peaceably. 

There  was  a  speck  of  liberty  discernible  in  the  part  which 
the  Boston  people  took  in  this  affair.  An  occasion  of  a  differ- 
ent kind  occurred  in  1646,  in  which  they  manifested  their  love 
of  freedom  more  conspicuously.  There  had  been  an  assem- 
bly of  the  ministers  and  elders  in  1643,  for  the  purpose  of 
discountenancing  an  attempt  at  Newbury  to  establish  some 
things  in  the  presbyterian  way.  It  probably  was  a  voluntary 
meeting,  and  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston  acted  as  one  of  the  mode- 
rators. In  1646,  a  synod  was  called  by  the  General  Court, 
to  discuss,  dispute  and  clear  up  such  questions  of  church  gov- 
ernment and  discipline  as  they  shall  think  needful  and  meet, 
and  to  continue  so  doing  till  the  major  part  of  them  should  be 
agreed  upon  one  form  of  government  and  discipline,  which  they 
judge  agreeable  to  the  holy  scriptures,  to  be  presented  to  the 
court  for  their  approbation.  It  was  of  course  intended  that 
what  this  synod  should  decree,  and  the  court  approve,  should 
become  the  law  of  the  land  and  binding  on  the  churches. 
Some  of  the  deputies  saw  this  and  opposed  the  proposition. 
It  was  demonstrated  that  no  new  powers  were  assumed  ;  but 
out  of  regard  to  the  scruples  of  some  members,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  synod  should  be  convoked  by  a  vote  recommending 
it  to  the  several  churches  to  send  delegates,  and  not  by  a  pos- 
itive order. 

But,  says  Mr.  Hubbard,  whatever  gentle  words  the  order 
was  sweetened  withal,  some  of  the  churches  could  not  swal- 
low it :  the  principal  men  who  raised  objections  were  some 
lately  arrived  from  England,  where  a  vast  liberty  was  allowed 
by  the  parliament,  which  had  also  sent  orders  to  the  West  In- 
dia colonies,  that  all  men  should  enjoy  their  liberty  of  con- 
science, and  had  by  their  letters  also  intimated  the  same  to 
those  of  New-England.  Some  few  of  the  church  in  Boston 
adhered  to  these  principles,  which  made  them  stickle  much 
against  the  calling  of  this  synod. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  101 

This  few  formed  about  three-sevenths  of  the  acting  mem- 
bers of  the  church  ;  they  were  influenced  in  a  great  degree 
by  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Cotton,  and  their  opposition  to  the  mea- 
sure was  so  determined,  that  they  presented  three  formal  ob- 
jections to  it ;  that  the  interference  of  the  court  was  unneces- 
sary, that  the  order  originated  with  the  ministers,  and  that 
the  decisions  of  the  synod  would  be  binding  on  the  churches, 
without  their  own  consent.  A  motion  was  however  made 
that  the  church  should  send  its  proportion  of  delegates,  and 
after  two  Sabbath  days'  debate,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirma- 
tive by  a  vote  of  forty  against  thirty.  Here  arose  a  great 
difficulty  :  some  members  were  in  favour  of  proceeding  to  se- 
lect and  send  their  delegates  :  but  the  church  had  heretofore 
done  all  business  by  unanimous  votes,  and  it  would  have 
grieved  many  to  see  so  important  an  act  as  this,  carried  into 
operation  on  a  bare  majority.  To  relieve  the  difficulty,  some 
one  proposed  that  the  whole  church  should  attend  and  see  for 
themselves  :  but  this  would  appear  singular  and  perhaps  be 
thought  disrespectful.  Some  external  impulse  was  necessary 
to  bring  the  matter  to  a  conclusion.  Mr.  Norton,  then  of  Ips- 
wich, was  at  hand,  and  he  was  procured  to  supply  the  pulpit 
as  Boston,  upon  a  lecture  day,  where  was  a  great  audience, 
and  he  handled  his  subject  so  aptly,  and  with  so  much  strength 
of  reason  and  argument,  that  on  the  next  Sabbath  the  Boston 
church  agreed  to  send  their  elders  and  three  of  the  brethren 
as  messengers  to  the  synod. 

This  assembly  met  at  Cambridge  and  had  several  adjourn- 
ments until  October  1648,  when  its  sesssion  terminated.  Its 
labours  principally  consisted  in  compiling  what  is  called  the 
Cambridge  platform,  which  together  with  the  Westminster  con- 
fession they  recommended  to  the  court,  and  which  for  a  long 
time  continued  to  be  standard  authorities  in  the  congregational 
churches  in  New-England.* 


Huhlard,  532.    Backus,  i.  185.     Magnalia,  ii.  181—  Emerson,  81.   Mass.  H.  C.  1.  x.  3—2.  i. 


102  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


"  Great  prince  and  father  of  our  State,  receive 

The  well-earn'd  honours  that  tby  Rome  would  give." 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1649,  Boston  suffered  a  mourn- 
ful loss  in  the  death  of  Governour  Winthrop.  From  the  first 
moment  of  placing  his  foot  on  the  peninsula  he  had  been  its 
firmest  friend.  His  resolute  perseverance  in  opposition  to  Dud- 
ley's plan  of  establishing  the  capital  at  Cambridge,  laid  the 
foundation  of  Boston's  greatness,  and  the  endeavours  of  Endi- 
cott  and  his  party  to  obtain  the  same  honour  for  Salem,  were 
rendered  unavailing  through  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  Win- 
throp. He  was  one  of  the  earliest  Selectmen  and  frequently 
served  on  that  board.  In  almost  every  event  of  any  moment 
we  find  him  bearing  part,  and  except  for  one  short  period  he 
was  an  oracle  and  favourite  with  the  people.  Or,  as  Cotton 
expresses  it,  he  was  their  friend  in  all  things  by  his  counsel,  a 
a  help  for  their  bodies  by  physick,  and  in  their  estates  by 
law. 

Governour  Winthrop  was  born  at  the  family  mansion  house 
of  his  ancestors,  at  Groton  in  Suffolk,  June  12,  1587.  Hav- 
ing been  educated  to  the  profession  of  law,  he  was  made  a 
Justice  of  the  peace  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  soon  became 
conspicuous  for  his  many  virtues.  In  his  profession  he  was 
exemplary  as  an  upright  and  impartial  magistrate,  and  in  his 
private  character  he  manifested  the  traits  of  a  devout  and 
practical  christian.  He  had  the  wisdom  to  discern  and  the 
fortitude  to  perform  what  was  right  in  executing  the  duties  of 
his  office;  and  as  a  gentleman  was  remarkable  for  liberality 
and  hospitality.  These  qualities  rendered  him  dear  to  men 
of  sobriety  and  religion,  and  fitted  him  to  engage  in  the  great 
and  difficult  work  of  founding  a  colony. 

Previous  to  his  embarking  for  New-England,  he  converted 
a  fine  estate  of  six  or  seven  hundred  pounds  sterling  per  an- 
num into  money,  which  he  expended  principally  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  plantation.  His  time,  his  study,  his  exertions,  his 
influence  and  his  interests,  were  all  employed  in  the  publick 
service.  He  maintained  the  dignity  of  a  governour  with  the 
obliging  condescension  of  a  gentleman  :  his  wisdom,  patience 
and  magnanimity  were  conspicuous  in  the  most  severe  trials. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  103 

and  his  christian-like  behaviour  added  splendour  to  all  his 
rare  qualifications. 

He  was  a  pattern  to  the  people  of  that  frugality,  decency, 
and  temperance,  which  were  necessary  in  their  circumstances, 
and  even  denied  himself  many  of  the  elegances  and  superflui- 
ties of  life,  which  he  had  enjoyed  elsewhere.  This  he  did 
both  that  he  might  set  others  a  proper  example,  and  be  the 
better  enabled  to  exercise  that  liberality  in  which  he  delight- 
ed. His  charity  indeed  was  unbounded.  He  would  often 
send  his  servants  on  some  errand,  at  meal  times,  to  the  houses 
of  his  neighbours  to  see  how  they  were  provided  with  food, 
and  if  there  was  a  deficiency  would  supply  them  from  his  own 
table.  He  mingled  with  his  sterner  virtues  a  happy  portion 
of  well-timed  wit.  In  one  of  the  very  hard  and  long  winters 
which  he  endured  in  this  climate,  a  man  came  to  the  gov- 
ernour  with  a  private  complaint  that  a  needy  person  in  the 
neighbourhood  stole  wood  sometimes  from  his  pile.  '  Does 
he?  said  Mr.  Winthrop,  '  call  him  to  me  and  I  will  take  a  course 
with  him,  that  shall  cure  him  of  stealing.''  The  man  appeared, 
trembling  under  the  terrours  of  the  law.  '  Friend?  said  the 
governour,  '  it  is  a  very  cold  season,  and  I  doubt  you  are  but 
poorly  provided  with  wood:  you  are  zoelcome  to  supply  yourself  at 
my  pile  till  the  winter  is  over.'' 

But  though  condescending  and  gentle  on  every  occasion  of 
personal  ill  treatment,  yet  where  the  honour  of  government  or 
religion  and  the  interests  of  the  people  were  concerned,  he 
was  equally  firm  and  intrepid,  standing  foremost  in  opposition 
to  those  whom  he  judged  to  be  really  publick  enemies.  He 
defended  the  course  he  had  pursued  in  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
case,  on  the  ground  which  he  maintained  on  all  occasions  : 
'  I  have  acted  according  to  my  conscience  and  my  oath,  and 
by  advice  of  the  elders  of  the  church,  and  am  fully  satisfied 
that  it  would  not  have  been  consistent  with  the  publick  peace 
to  have  done  otherwise.' 

His  political  opinions  were  not  so  favourable  to  the  demo- 
cratical  forms  of  government  as  were  those  of  some  of  the 
wise  and  good  men  with  whom  he  was  associated.  On  this 
subject  he  has  left  us  these  remarkable  words ;  '  the  best  part 
of  a  community  is  always  the  least,  and  of  that  best  part  the 
wiser  is  still  less.'  His  ideas  of  the  right  of  a  publick  officer 
to  exercise  his  own  judgment  are  thus  conveyed  :  'When  you 
choose  us  magistrates,  the  covenant  between  us  and  you  is,  that 
we  shall  govern  you  and  judga  your  causes  according  to  the 
laws  of  God  and  our  best  skill ;  and  as  for  our  skill,  you  must 
run  the  hazard  of  it :  if  there  be  an  errour,  not  in  the  will,  but 
in  the  skill,  it  becomes  you  to  bear  it.' 

Mr.  Winthrop,  before  he  left  England,  was  of  a  more  catho- 
lick  spirit  than  some  of  his  brethren.  After  he  came  to  America 


104  HISTORY    OF  EOSTOX. 

he  yielded  somewhat  to  the  reigning  spirit  of  intolerance,  but 
as  he  advanced  in  life  he  resumed  his  former  moderation,  and 
in  the  time  of  his  last  sickness,  when  Dudley  pressed  him  to 
sign  an  order  for  the  banishment  of  a  person  who  was  deemed 
heterodox,  he  refused,  saying,  that  he  had  done  too  much  of 
that  work  already. 

He  met  with  much  affliction  in  his  family,  having  buried 
three  wives  and  six  children.  These  and  other  troubles  join- 
ed with  the  opposition  and  ill  treatment  he  frequently  received 
so  preyed  upon  his  nature,  already  worn  by  the  toils  and  hard- 
ships of  planting  a  colony  in  a  wilderness,  that  he  perceived  a 
decay  of  his  faculties  and  often  spoke  of  his  dissolution  as  ap- 
proaching, with  a  calm  resignation  to  the  will  of  heaven.  A 
fever  occasioned  by  a  cold,  after  one  month's  confinement, 
put  an  end  to  his  life  on  the  26th  of  March  1649,  aet.  62. 

Gov.  Winthrop's  house  stood  on  the  spot  occupied  by  the 
South  Row,  about  opposite  to  School  street.  It  was  of  wood, 
two  stories  high,  and  was  demolished  by  the  British  in  1775. 
His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  family  tomb,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Chapel  burial  ground.  His  portrait  is  preserved 
in  the  Land  Office  at  the  State  House.  He  is  judged  to  have 
been  about  six  feet  high,  not  corpulent,  long  favoured,  with  a 
dark  blue  eye,  high  forehead,  long  beard,  and  dark  hair, 
which  he  wore  in  the  form  of  a  natural  wig. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"See  wide  dominions  ravished  from  the  deep, 
And  changed  creation  takes  its  face  from  man.: 


We  consider  the  death  of  Gov.  Winthrop  to  have  complet- 
ed an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Boston.  The  town  had  then 
been  settled  about  nineteen  years;  its  population  had  become 
so  numerous  that  they  were  meditating  the  formation  of  a  new 
church :  the  necessities  of  the  place  and  the  conveniences  it 
afforded  for  trade,  had  given  occasion  for  extensive  improve- 
ments in  the  construction  of  wharves,  and  other  expedients  to 
enlarge  the  facilities  for  domestick  and  foreign  commerce :  a 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  publick  instruction  of  youth,  and  a 
regular  system  of  police  established.  We  propose  to  give  in 
this  chapter  a  view  of  the  progress  of  these  improvements. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  106 

The  features  which  in  sixteen  hundred  and  thirty  were 
most  prominent  on  the  face  of  Boston  have  now  disappeared. 
The  hill  at  the  north,  rising  to  the  height  of  about  50  feet 
above  the  sea,  presented  then  on  its  northwest  brow  an  ab- 
rupt declivity;  long  after  known  as  Copp's  hill  steeps.  Its 
summit,  almost  level,  extended  between  Prince  and  Charter 
streets  towards  Christ's  church.  Thence  south  a  gentle  slope 
led  to  the  water,  which  washed  the  south  side  of  Prince 
street  below,  and  the  north  side  above  Thacher  street  as  far 
as  Salem  street.  Eastward  from  the  church,  a  gradual  de- 
scent led  to  the  north  battery,  which  was  considered  the  bot- 
tom of  the  hill.  South-easterly  the  slope  was  still  more  grad- 
ual, and  terminated  at  the  foot  of  the  north  square,  leaving  a 
knoll  on  the  right,  where  at  present  stands  the  meeting-house 
of  the  Second  church. 

This  hill  was  the  spot  selected  for  the  site  of  the  first  wind- 
mill used  in  the  colony,  when  it  was  brought  down  from  Wa- 
tertown,  in  August  1632,  because  it  would  not  grind  there  but 
with  a  westerly  wind.  Hence  it  obtained  the  name  of  Windmill 
hill.  Most  probably  it  was  at  some  period  called  Snow  hill ; 
but  about  the  time  of  the  revolution  in  1775,  it  bore  the  name 
of  Copp,  which  it  retained  so  long  as  any  portion  of  it  was 
left  standing. 

William  Copp  was  the  earliest  proprietor  of  that  portion 
of  the  hill  which  latterly  bore  his  name.  This  appears  from 
the  following  record  in  the  first  book  of  possessions. 

"  The  possession  of  William  Copp  within  the  limits  of  Boston. 

"  One  house  and  lott  of  halfe  an  acre  in  the  Mill  field  bound- 
ed with  Thomas  Buttolph  southeast :  John  Button  northeast : 
the  marsh  on  the  southwest:  and  the  river  on  the  northwest." 

Copp's  hill  was  at  one  time  in  possession  of  the  Ancient 
and  Honourable  Artillery  Company.  In  1775  the  common 
was  occupied  by  the  British  troops,  and  that  company  was  re- 
fused admittance  there  to  perform  their  exercise  and  evolu- 
tions. Major  Wm.  Bell,  who  was  then  commander,  therefore 
marched  the  company  to  Copp's  hill.  Some  years  after,  a 
question  arose  in  town  meeting, '  to  whom  this  hill  belonged :' 
some  one  said,  '  to  the  Ancient  and  Honourable.'  Col.  Jo- 
seph Jackson,  their  treasurer  and  past  commander,  was  sent 
for,  and  declared  that  he  considered  it  their  property,  a  mort- 
gage upon  it  to  them  having  long  since  run  out,  and  that  Capt. 
Bell,  with  the  company,  had  taken  possession  of  it  in  1775. 
Capt.  Bell  was  then  interrogated  by  Col.  Thomas  Dawes,  the 
moderator.  Why  did  you  march  your  company  to  Copp's 
hill  ?  Answer.  1  was  prohibited  from  entering  the  common, 
14 


106  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

conceiving  this  hill  to  be  the  property  of  the  company,  I 
marched  them  there,  as  a  place  no  one  had  a  right  to  exclude 
them  from.  Question  by  moderator.  Supposing  a  party  of 
British  troops  should  have  been  in  possession  of  it,  and  should 
have  forbidden  you  entrance,  what  would  you  have  done  ? 
Answer.  I  would  have  charged  bayonets,  and  forced  my 
way,  as  surely  as  I  would  force  my  way  into  my  dwelling 
house,  if  taken  possession  of  by  a  gang  of  thieves.  The 
late  Col.  William  Tudor,  who  was  then  present,  said,  '  Mr. 
Moderator,  The  hill  clearly  belongs  to  that  company,  and  I 
wish  they  would  execute  a  quit  claim  of  it  to  me  for  a  fair 
price.'     The  mortgage  was  afterwards  discharged. 

The  British  left  a  small  fort  standing  on  this  hill,  (near  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  burial  ground,)  which  remained  a  fa- 
vourite resort  for  the  recreation  of  school-boys,  until  the  im- 
provements commenced  in  1807,  that  have  terminated  in  the 
levelling  of  the  hill,  and  the  erection  of  buildings  on  its  sum- 
mit and  base.* 

Lynn-street  and  Ann-street,  as  far  south  as  Richmond- 
street,  occupy  what  was  the  foot  of  Windmill  hill  on  the  sea- 
board. The  land  between  Richmond-street  on  the  north,  and 
Portland  and  Elm-streets  on  the  south,  was  a  narrow  neck,  on 
either  side  of  which  was  a  spacious  cove.  Southerly  from 
Richmond-street,  Ann-street  probably  follows  the  shore,  till 
we  reach  the  Mill  creek,  where  a  natural  inlet  commenced, 
which  extended  to  and  covered  what  is  now  Hatter's  square. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained  the  name  of  '  the  cove1  was 
applied  to  all  the  water  which  flowed  between  the  head  of 
Hancock's  wharf  and  the  bottom  of  State-street.  All  the 
records  of  possessions  north  of  the  former  speak  of  the  sea 
or  the  bay  (as  Josselyn  called  it)  for  the  bounds  on  the  north 
and  east.  Then  comes  Thomas  Joy  who  has  the  cove  south- 
west ;  Mr.  Thomas  Clarke  next  has  it  south,  which  probably 
was  at  the  foot  of  North-square,  (for  some  time  called  Clark's 
square.)  Southerly  from  him  various  owners  have  the  cove 
southeast,  east  and  north  till  we  come  to  Edward  Tyng,  who 
has  the  bay  on  the  east,  and  the  cove  on  the  north. 

The  western  extremity  of  this,  which  we  will  call  the  mar- 
ket-cove, has  of  late  3'ears  been  known  as  the  Town  dock  ;  it 
was  formerly  called  Bendall's  dock,  from  Edward  Bendall, 
who  owned  a  lot  near  the  head  of  it.  His  deed  gives  him  the 
cove  north  and  east,  which  brought  him  not  far  from  the  cor- 
ner of  Dock-square  opposite  the  Sheep-market  :  a  creek  is 
mentioned  near  his  new  house,  April  1639.  The  water  flow- 
ed near  to  the  foot  of  Brattle-street.  The  whole  of  Dock-square 

*  Whitman's  hist,  sketch,  p.  66.     Winthrop's  Journal. 


HISTORY    01"   BOSTON. 


107 


and  Market-square,  and  the  west  side  of  Union-street  as  far  as 
Creek  lane,  and  all  east  of  that  to  the  Mill  creek  were  daily 
covered  by  the  tide. 

Between  the  inlet,  which  now  forms  the  Mill  creek,  and  the 
principal  arm  of  the  cove,  there  was  a  narrow  point  of  low 
marsh  projecting,  in  the  form  of  a  triangle.  This  was  an- 
ciently granted  to  Mr.  Bellingham.  In  1644  he  sold  one  half 
to  Christopher  Lawson,  and  the  other  half  in  1646  to  Joshua 
Scottow,  who  in  1650  appears  also  to  have  purchased  of 
James  Everill  another  portion  of  the  same  marsh,  which  was 
the  identical  spot  on  which  lately  stood  the  triangular  ware- 
house. 


THE  TRIANGULAR  WAREHOUSE. 


VIEW    FROM    S.    E.    CORNER   OF    FANEDIL-H  AXL. 


The  origin  of  that  singular  building  is  involved  in  a  happy 
obscurity,  which  has  given  rise  to  much  curious  speculation. 
It  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Town  dock,  as  it  was  in  July  last, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  same.  It  occupied  precisely  the 
space  marked  by  the  small  triangle,  which  is  to  be  seen  in 
square  H  e  on  our  plan  for  1824,  and  opposite  to  the  swing 
bridge,  which  is  shewn  on  the  plan  for  1722.  It  measured  on 
the  side  facing  the  dock  forty-eight  feet :  on  Roe-buck  passage 
fifty-one,  and  on  the  back  side  fifty-five  feet.  It  was  built  of 
brick,  on  a  stone  foundation,  and  had  a  slated  roof.  There 
were  two  principal  stories  in  the  building  with  a  good 
cellar  underneath.  The  lower  story  appeared  to  have  been 
arched,  with  very  many  doors  and  windows.     On  each  cor- 


108  HISTORY    0¥   EOSTOtf. 

ner,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  roof  there  was  a  tower,  such  as  is 
represented  in  the  plate,  topped  with  a  ball.  The  centre  ball 
was  of  wood  ;  the  others  were  of  stone,  all  fixed  on  iron  spires 
set  in  lead.  Conjecture  has  made  this  edifice  to  have  been  a 
fort  built  for  the  protection  of  the  town,  or  a  custom-house 
for  the  accommodation  of  government  ;  there  is,  however, 
good  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  not  erected  for  any  publick 
purpose,  but  that  it  was  built  about  the  year  1700,  by  London 
merchants,  for  a  commercial  warehouse.  It  had  been  a  place 
of  considerable  business  and  for  some  time  the  publick  scales 
for  weighing  large  draughts  were  kept  there.  Of  late  years 
it  had  been  occupied  for  minor  purposes,  until  August  last, 
when  it  was  taken  down  to  make  room  for  the  great  improve- 
ments commenced  in  the  vicinity  of  the  market.  It  was  con- 
structed with  great  strength,  the  bricks  were  of  a  larger  size 
than  those  now  used,  and  the  foundation  stood  upon  a  sandy 
marsh  ;  beneath  which  there  is  found  a  solid  blue  clay,  at 
about  thirteen  feet  below  the  level  of  Ann-street. 

State-street  was  a  primitive  highway.  The  owners  on  both 
sides,  about  1640, can  be  traced.  Edward  Tyng  before  men- 
tioned, owned  the  North-east  corner,  which,  as  we  suppose, 
was  the  South-west  corner  of  Merchants'-row.  William  Hud- 
son, senior,  held  a  house  and  yard  at  the  lower  end  on  the 
south  side,  which  appears  to  have  been  the  only  lot  between 
the  corner  of  that  street  and  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Win- 
throp's  marsh,  which  afterwards  came  to  be  known  by  the 
name  of  Oliver's  dock.  This  lot  was  probably  situated  near 
the  corner  of  Kilby-street  now  occupied  by  the  New-England 
bank.  From  between  that  corner  and  the  bottom  of  Milk- 
street,  a  cove  run  up  westward  as  far  as  Spring-lane,  where 
there  was  a  remarkable  spring.  Mr.  Winthrop's  garden  lay 
on  the  south  side  of  that  lane,  and  was  said  to  be  bounded 
north  with  the  springate.  Mr.  Hibbins  lay  east  of  him,  hav- 
ing also  the  springate  north.  Then  came  John  Spoore,  who 
had  '  the  creek'  north,  and  the  marsh  east  of  him.  These 
three  lots  bring  us  down  to  the  block  between  Congress  and 
Kilby  (late  Adams)  street.  Passing  the  intervening  piece  of 
marsh,  (or  water  course,)  we  then  have  three  lots  which  have 
the  marsh  still  on  the  north,  and  at  the  water  side  have  John 
Compton's  house  and  garden  '  bounded  with  the  cove  on  the 
east  and  the  fort-hill  on  the  south.'  The  lots  on  the  north 
side  of  Spring-lane  and  Water-street  are  all  said  to  be  bound- 
ed south,  either  by  the  springate  or  the  marsh. 

We  have  taken  the  pains  to  trace  out  the  above  points  on 
the  original  records,  to  show  how  accurately  tradition  and  the 
memory  of  our  aged  citizens  agree  with  the  facts  thus  ascer- 
tained. They  substantiate  the  account  in  Shaw's  description, 
which  we  here  insert. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  109 

4  Olivers  Dock,  not  many  years  since,  came  up  to  Kilby- 
street.  A  fish-shop  owned  by  Mr.  Solomon  Hewes,  used  to 
stand  over  the  water,  and  parallel  to  the  street.  On  the  side 
of  the  dock  stood  the  famous  stamp  office,  occupied  by  Lieut. 
Governor  Oliver.  This  small  building  was  tumbled  into  the 
water  by  the  patriotic  mob  in  1765,  and  with  it  was  over- 
thrown the  scheme  of  taxation  which  led  to  the  revolution. 
The  building,  now  (1817)  occupied  as  a  grocer's  shop,  by  J. 
Welsh,  stands  on  the  same  spot. 

'  The  greater  part  of  Quaker-lane  (Congress  street,)  i&made 
land.  An  aged  gentleman,  who  lived  near  the  spot,  says  that 
when  the  foundation  of  Joy's  buildings  was  preparing,  the 
remains  of  the  hull  of  an  old  vessel,  or  large  boat,  with  frag- 
ments of  canvass,  and  tarred  rope,  were  dug  up  :  which  shews 
the  place  had  been  once  used  for  a  graving  yard,  or  some 
similar  purpose.  A  relative  of  our  informant,  remembered 
when  lighters  and  boats  came  up  the  creek  (then  so  called,) 
as  far  as  the  wheat  sheaf,  now  the  estate  of  Mr.  Kendall,  the 
baker.  On  the  spot  now  covered  by  the  corner  of  Joy's 
buildings,  stood  a  shop,  improved  by  one  Kent,  a  tanner.  His 
tan-yard  was  in  the  rear,  and  in  front  was  a  wharf,  for  the 
accommodation  of  his  small  vessels.  This  was  one  branch 
of  the  creek. 

'  Another  branch  may  be  traced  thus  : — A  Mr.  Marshall 
remembered,  when  a  boy,  smelts  were  caught  at  the  head  of 
the  creek,  near  the  meeting-house  in  Federal-street,  where  is 
now  the  drain  and  common  sewer.  A  man  descended  in  this 
some  years  ago,  and  groped  his  way  under  ground,  till  he 
came  out  at  Oliver's  dock. —  Here  were  a  number  of  cooper's 
shops  ;  the  workmen  used  to  soak  their  hoops  in  the  water, 
now  covered  by  an  oyster  shop,  and  buildings  occupied  by 
painters  and  others.  From  a  view  of  the  ground,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  the  greater  part  of  Congress-street,  the 
whole  of  Kilby-street,  and  Liberty-square,  are  built  on  flats 
once  covered  by  salt  water.  In  noticing  the  great  storm  and 
tide,  in  1  723,  the  writer  says,  "  we  could  sail  in  boats  from 
the  southern   battery  to  the  rise  of  ground  in  King-street." 

c  Another  aged  inhabitant  states,  that  he  has  seen  a  canoe 
sail,  at  different  times,  over  the  spot  which  now  makes  the 
corner  of  Congress  and  Water-streets  ;  and  thinks  he  has 
seen  the  water  three  feet  deep  in  Federal-street.  He  remem- 
bers having  heard  Dr.  Chauncy  say,  that  he  had  taken  smelts 
in  the  place,  now  improved  as  a  garden,  belonging  to  the  es- 
tate of  the  late  Judge  Paine,  in  Milk-street,  [at  the  west  cor- 
ner of  Federal-street.] 

'  Passing  on  southerly  from  the  bottom  of  Milk-street  to 
Battery-march,  you  walk  over  a  spot,  which  was  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  Mr.  Hallowell  as  a  ship-yard. — Where  the  Custom- 


110  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

house,  and  the  adjoining  stores  now  stand,  vessels  of  great 
burthen  have  been  built ;  and  a  large  and  beautiful  ship,  com- 
pletely rigged,  owned  by  Capt.  Fellows  was  launched  there, 
within  the  recollection  of  many  now  living. 

'  In  very  high  tides  the  water  has  flowed  up  to  the  corner 
of  State-street,  formerly  called  the  Admiral  Vernon  tavern, 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  Sumner  as  a  crockery  store.  At  the 
bottom  of  this  street  not  many  years  since,  logs  were  dug  up 
in  a  sound  state,  which,  from  the  knots  and  remains  of  the 
boughs,  must  have  been  felled  near  the  spot.' 

The  grocery  shop  mentioned  in  this  account  stood  at  the 
corner  of  Kilby-street,  which  makes  the  north-east  corner  of 
Liberty-square,  being  very  near  the  centre  of  H  h*  Joy's 
buildings  are  on  the  west  side  of  Congress-street,  corner  of 
Water-street.  The  southern  branch  of  the  creek  covered  a 
part  of  the  lower  end  of  Pearl-street,  and  extended  across 
the  Atkinson  estate,  which  lay  between  Pearl  and  Atkinson- 
streets,  as  appears  on  an  ancient  plan  deposited  in  the  Athe- 
nasum,  and  is  also  evident  from  the  course  of  the  larger  drain. 
The  head  of  the  creek  reached  towards  Summer-street,  and 
in  very  high  tides,  has  nearly  united  with  the  water  from 
South-street  at  the  late  Mr.  Ebenezer  Parsons'  garden,  now 
Winthrop-place.  In  digging  for  the  foundation  of  the  very 
elegant  stone  stores  recently  erected  by  Waterston,  Pray,  & 
Co.  at  the  corner  of  Kilby  and  Water-streets,  it  was  necessa- 
ry to  pass  through  marsh  and  dock  mud,  and  the  tide  water 
daily  filled  the  trenches,  until  the  discovery  that  it  was  all  let 
in  by  one  aqueduct  log.  The  Admiral  Vernon  tavern  noticed 
by  Shaw, Was  at  the  corner  of  Merchants'-Row. 

From  the  south-east  margin  of  this,  which  we  will  call  the 
middle-cove,  the  eastern  hill  commenced  its  ascent,  and  ex- 
tending gradually  to  the  south  and  west  rose  to  the  height  of 
30  feet  above  the  sea.  Its  eastern  side  was  also  a  ragged  cliff, 
that  seemed  placed  by  nature  in  front  of  the  entrance  to  the 
harbour  for  the  purposes  of  defence,  to  which  it  was  very 
soon  applied,  and  from  which  it  obtained  its  present  name  of 
Fort-hill.  It  was  before  called  Corn-hill.  Southerly  and 
westerly  it  slopes  towards  Purchase  and  Atkinson,  and  down 
High-street  to  the  foot  of  Summer-street. 

The  estates  east  of  High-street  had  the  bay  on  the  east, 
and  when  we  arrive  to  the  lots  now  in  South-street  and  Essex, 
they  are  said  to  have  the  cove  on  the  south,  which  we  call 
the  southern  cove.  Windmill  point  at  the  bottom  of  Sea-street 
makes  one  limit  of  this  cove,  and  South  Boston  the  other,  with 
Dorchester  and  Roxbury  south,  and  the  neck  on  the  west. 

'  The  neck  now  so  called  within  the  limits  of  Boston  is  one 
mile  and  thirty-nine  yards  in  length.      A  part  of  it  has  been 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTON.  Ill 

greatly  widened  and  improved  by  building,  and  the  whole  ex- 
tent has  been  raised  by  art  above  its  original  level  :  other- 
wise the  neck  has  undergone  but  little  alteration.  It  is  hard- 
ly necessary  to  state  that  the  neck  has  been  overflowed  in 
many  parts,  within  the  recollection  of  people  now  living.' 

On  the  west  side  of  the  neck  we  have  the  receiving  basin  of 
the  mill-dam,  and  as  we  advance  north  from  that  we  enter 
Charles  River,  which  washes  the  western  shore  of  the  penin- 
sula, and  empties  itself  into  the  bay  between  Copp's  hill  and 
Charlestown.  There  its  breadth  is  about  600  yards  :  towards 
the  south  part  of  the  town  it  widens  into  a  bay  of  considera- 
ble extent,  but  the  channel  becomes  narrow  and  innavigable 
by  large  vessels  at  low  tide.  Formerly  also  there  was  a 
spacious  cove  on  the  Boston  side,  still  nearer  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  This  afterwards  became  the  mill  pond  by  the 
erection  of  the  causeway  from  Prince-street  G  c  to  Leverett 
street  D  d.  The  waters  of  '  the  mill  cove''  came  up  to  the 
south-west  side  of  Prince-street  below  Thacher-street,  where 
they  took  a  turn  northerly  and  up  towards  the  bottom  of 
Snow-hill-street.  The  northerly  end  of  Thacher-street  lay 
open  till  within  a  very  few  years.  The  south  side  of  Prince 
street  above  this  spot  was  marsh,  and  so  was  the  west  side  of 
Back-street.  A  causeway  was  also  erected  on  this  side,  for 
the  convenience  of  passengers  to  the  mill ;  it  lay  east  of  the 
present  site  of  the  First  Baptist  meeting-house,  and  opened  a 
few  rods  east  of  Thacher-street. 

Until  1807,  when  the  mill  pond  began  to  be  filled  up,  about 
one  half  the  Baptist  meeting-house  mentioned  stood  over  the 
water,  and  the  margin  of  the  pond  ran  in  a  south  by  west  line 
to  the  south  mills,  which  stood  at  the  entrance  on  Mill-pond- 
street,  near  the  furniture  warehouse  of  Mr.  Beals.  Verging 
thence  a  little  more  westerly,  it  passed  across  Union,  Friends' 
and  Portland-street  towards  the  bottom  of  Hawkins',  whence 
it  took  a  westerly  course  across  Pitt's  and  Gooch-street  to  the 
entrance  from  Leverett-street,  which  at  one  time  bore  the 
name  of  Mill-alley.  Not  far  from  this  spot  we  find  the  record 
of  a  '  small  creek,'  as  the  west  bounds  of  an  estate,  Alexan- 
der Beck's,  which  had  '  the  cove  north,  and  John  Leverit 
south,'  from  whom  Leverett-street  has  probably  derived  its 
name. 

The  descent  to  the  water  here  was  very  steep.  The  south- 
west side  of  Leverett-street,  opposite  this  opening,  stands  on 
rising  ground  from  which  we  may  commence  our  ascent  to 
one  portion  of  the  chief  of  the  three  hills.  A  street  was 
early  laid  out  in  the  vicinity,  if  not  in  the  very  course  of 
Temple-street,  and  those  among  us  not  very  old  can  well  re- 
member Beacon  hill  steps,  which  stood   at  the  head  of  it,  to 


112  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON". 

conduct  us  to  a  spot  that  we  shall  ever  recollect  with  pleasure 
and  regret. 

The  top  of  this  beautiful  hill  was  138  feet  and  a  half  above 
the  level  of  the  sea.  It  afforded  '  an  extensive  and  most  en- 
chanting prospect  of  the  country  round,'  and  of  the  islands 
in  the  harbour.  The  spirit  of  speculation  has  in  an  evil  hour 
laid  it  low,  and  posterity  must  satisfy  themselves  with  a  dull 
description  instead  of  enjoying  the  reality. 

Beacon  hill  with  its  two  eminences  embraced  about  a  hun- 
dred acres  of  ground,  extending  through  the  centre  of  the 
peninsula,  from  the  river  to  the  coves.  The  view  given  in 
page  46,  exhibits  as  exact  a  representation  of  its  original  ap- 
pearance seen  from  Charlestown,  as  we  have  been  able  to  ob- 
tain. Probably  it  was  better  wooded.  Of  late  years,  while 
it  laid  open  as  a  pasture  ground  for  cattle,  the  barberry  and 
the  wild  rose  grew  upon  it.  The  eminence  almost  contiguous 
to  Beacon  hill  on  the  east,  was  rather  higher  than  that  on  its 
western  side.  It  reached  towards  Tremont-street  (lately  so 
called)  and  thence  with  a  very  slow  descent  in  three  di- 
rections led  to  the  Springate,  the  Market  cove,  and  the 
Mill  pond,  through  Sudbury-street.  The  grounds  occupied 
by  the  gardens  of  Messrs.  Phillips,  Green,  and  Lloyd,  we 
conjecture  to  have  been  '  the  three  little  rising  hills,'  from 
which  arose  the  name  of  Trea-Mount,  as  the  street  was  first 
officially  designated  in  1708.* 

The  westernmost  eminence  or  left  shoulder  of  this  hill,  as 
Johnson  might  call  it,  making  no  unapt  comparison  of  the 
three  to  the  head  and  shoulders  of  a  man,  was  farther  from 
the  beacon,  and  occupied  what  is  now  called  Mount  Vernon. 
The  highest  points  were  probably  between  Sumner  and 
Pinckney-streets,  giving  an  easy  descent  towards  Cambridge- 
street  on  the  north,  and  a  more  rapid  one  to  Beacon-street 
south.  On  the  top,  directly  opposite  the  Charles-street  meet- 
ing-house, there  was,  and  continues  to  be,  a  boiling  spring, 
which  is  now  open  in  three  places,  at  a  height  not  less  than 
eighty  feet  above  the  water.  The  west  side  of  this  hill  ap- 
pears to  have  been  rough  and  precipitous,  though  several 
streets  are  now  constructed  over  it,  which  afford  a  more  gen- 
tle, if  not  entirely  safe  approach  to  the  river. 

'  A  certain  writer,  in  mentioning  this  river,  quaintly  says, 
the  subject  is  dry  though  watery  ;  and  is  not  considerable, 
otherwise  than  in  settling  the  south  line  of  the  Massachusetts 
colony.  It  is,  however,  worthy  of  particular  description,  in 
an  account  of  Boston.! 


*  Miscellanies  in  library  of  Historical  Society. 

t  See  Shazv,  p.  60, 70,  73,  81,  101,  116.     IVinthrop,  May,  1632.    Halt's  Survey,  p.  20. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  113 

'  The  source  of  the  principal  branch  of  this  river,  is  a  pond, 
bordering  on  Hopkinton.  It  passes  through  Holliston  and 
Bellingham,  and  branches  of  it  divide  Medway  from  Medfield, 
Wrentham  and  Franklin,  Dover  from  Sherburne,  and  passing 
in  a  north-easterly  course  through  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Natick, 
it  there  turns  to  the  eastward,  and  separating  Needham  and 
Dover,  pursues  its  way  into  Dedbam;  where  at  about  nine 
miles  from  Boston,  a  stream  called  Mother  Brook  runs  out  of 
this  river  into  the  Neponset,  and  forms  a  sort  of  canal  between 
the  two.  From  this  place  the  course  of  the  Charles  is  north- 
erly between  Needham  and  Newton  to  the  bounds  of  Weston, 
whence  bending  eastward  it  separates  Weston  and  Waltham 
from  Newton.  From  the  south-east  corner  of  Waltham,  it  has 
Watertown  and  Cambridge  on  the  north,  Newton,  Walertown 
(at  the  village),  Brighton  and  Brookline  on  the  south,  till  it 
reaches  the  harbour  of  Boston.  The  junction  of  the  Charles 
and  Neponset  by  the  medium  of  Mother  Brook,  forms  a  beauti- 
ful island  of  the  towns  that  lie  within  them,  to  wit,  Brookline, 
Brighton,  Newton,  part  of  Dedham,  Dorchester,  Roxbury 
and  Boston.  These  rivers  are  interrupted  by  several  elegant 
falls,  and  afford  a  number  of  seats  for  mills  and  manufactories. 

Besides  the  hills  and  water  spots  mentioned  there  was  one 
of  each,  of  which  nothing  now  remains  to  be  seen  ;  Fox  hill 
which  is  delineated  on  our  old  plan  at  the  bottom  of  the  com- 
mon, and  the  town's  watering  place,  which  was  afterwards 
called  '  the  pond,''  on  the  north  side  of  Bedford-street,  near 
the  opening  into  Chauncy-place.  It  is  most  likely  that  '  Mr. 
Coddington's  swamp'  was  situated  in  that  vicinity,  farther 
down  the  street.  There  was  also  a  considerable  extent  of 
marsh  on  the  north  side  of  Cambridge  street  below  Blossom 
street.  The  plans  of  the  town  so  late  as  1796  exhibit  no 
land  west  of  a  line  from  the  foot  of  Centre,  (No.  69  in  Bf.)  to 
Brighton  street,  in  B  d. 

An  enumeration  of  the  islands  in  the  harbour  will  now  com- 
plete our  design  of  bringing  into  one  view  the  original  appear- 
ance of  Boston.  The  following  table  was  made  in  1793  by 
that  distinguished  antiquary  Mr.  Thomas  Pemberton,  with 
great  care.  '  The  distances  are  from  actual  survey  according 
to  Des  Barre'b  excellent  chart.  Although  not  all  the  islands 
in  the  table  belong  to  Boston,  the  propriety  of  inserting  it  en- 
tire will  be  manifest.  The  bay  or  harbour  extends  from 
Nantasket  to  Boston,  and  spreads  from  Chelsea  to  Hingham, 
containing  about  75  square  miles.  It  is  bespangled  with  up- 
wards of  100  islands  or  rocks,  and  receives  the  waters  from 
Mystick,  Charles,  Neponset  and  Manatticut  Rivers,  with  sev- 
eral other  smaller  streams.' 
15 


114 


II IS TOIl JT    OF    BOSTON. 


Islands  and  Rocks. 


Distance  from 
Long  WharfM 
Boston. 


In  what  place. 


Apple  Island       -    -    -    - 

2  3-4  miles. 

Between  Snake  andGreen 

Boston. 

Apthorp's,   a  part  of  Calf 

9                 5> 

Bird  Island.    Soil  washed 

1  1-12    „ 

Between    Noddle's    and 

Boston. 

away,   but   dry   at   low 

Governour's  island       -   • 

Great  Brewster.    Contains 

7  3-4       „ 

Between     Lovell's     and 

Hull. 

about  25  acres.    A  high 

Light-House  island 

cliff,  towards  the  sea;  it 

is  lessening  every  year. 
Middle  Brewster.    Rocks, 
with  a  small  portion  of 

8  1-8       „ 

Between   the  Great  and 
Outer  Brewster       -    - 

Hull. 

Outer  Brewster  -    -    -    - 

8  1-4      „ 

East    from    the     Middle 
Brewster         -    -    -    - 

Hull. 

Bumkin  Island    -    -    -    - 

9  1-4      „ 

Between   Nantasket  and 
Little  Hog  island     -    - 

Hingham. 

Button  Island      -    -    -    - 

11  1-4      „ 

Between    Sailor's    island 
and  Hingham     -    -    - 

- 

Calf  Island.   Arock,cover- 

7  3-4      „ 

Between  the  GreatBrews- 

Hull. 

ed  in  some  parts  with  soil. 

ter  and  Green  island   - 

Castle  Island,  (Fort  Inde- 

2  1-3      „ 

Between  Thomson's  island 

Boston. 

Chandler's  Island,   called 

10  3-4      „ 

and  Boston     -    -    -    - 
Between  Bumkin   island 

Hingham. 

Langley's,  in  DesBarre's 

and  Hingham     -    -    - 

Deer  Island.    Wasting  to- 

4 1-4      „ 

Between    Shirley     point 

Boston. 

wards  the  sea,  and  gain- 

and Lovell's  island 

ing  on  the  inside,  and  at 

the  East  point      -    -    - 

Egg  Rock.    A  bare  rock. 

8  3-4      „ 

i  East   from     Light-House 

Gallop's  Island    -    -    -    - 

6 

Between     Lovell's     and 
Rainsford's  islands 

George's  Island       -    -    - 

6  1-2      „ 

Between      Lovell's     and 
Pettick's  islands      -    - 

Hull. 

Governour's   Island,  con- 

1 7-8       „ 

Between  Deer   and   Bird 

Boston. 

taining  about  70  acres  - 

Grape  Island       -    -    -    - 

8  7-8       „ 

1  Between   Bumkin   island 

Graves.    Bare  rocks    -    - 

9  1-4      „ 

and  Weymouth        -    - 
[  E.    by    N.    from    Green 

Green  Island.    Rock,  cov- 

7 7-8       „ 

Between  Calf  island  and 

Hull, 

ered  with  soil   in  most 

the  Graves  rocks     -    - 

Half  Moon  Island    -    -    - 

6  1-8       „ 

Between  Nut  island  and 
Squantum       -    -    -    - 

A  small  Island    -    -    -    - 

4  3-4       „ 

Near  Half  Moon  island    - 

Dorchester. 

Hangman's  Island        -    - 

5  7-3       „ 

Between     Pettick's   and 
Moon  islands       -    -    - 

HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


115 


Islands  and  Rocks. 


Distance  from 
Long  Jfharf, 
Boston. 


Situation. 


In  what  place. 


Harding's  Rocks.    Visible 

at  low  water    -    -    -    - 

Hog  island     -    -    -    -    - 

Little  Hog  island     -    -    - 

Light-House  island.  Rock, 
with  3-4ths  of  an  acre  of 
soil.  A  bar,  dry  at  low 
water,  connects  it  with 
the  Great  Brewster 

Long  island    -    -     -    -    - 

Lovell's  island     -    -    -    - 
Moon  island    -    -    -    -    - 

Nick's  Mate.  Nearly  wash- 
ed away  by  the  sea 

Noddle's,  or  Williams's 
island      ------ 

Nut  island.  Joins  the 
main  at  half  tide     -    - 

Pettick's  island        -    -    - 


^Rackoon  island    -    -    -    - 

Ragged  island    -    -    -    - 
Rainsford  island       -    -    - 

Rainsford  rocks        -    -    - 

Sailor's  island.  Called 
Sarah's  island  in  Des 
Barre's  chart        -    -    - 

Sheep  island  ------ 


10  3-4  miles. 


Slate  island    -    -  -  -  - 

Snake  island       -  -  -  - 

Spectacle  island  -  -  - 

Sunken  island      -  -  -  - 

Thomson's  island  -  -  - 

A  small  island  Marsh  in 

Mystick  river  -  -  - 

Shirley  point        -  -  -  - 

Alderton  point     -  -  -  - 


4  3-4 

6  1-4 

4  3-4 

5  3-4 
3-4 

7  1-4 
C  7-8 

8  1-4 

10  3-4 
5  7-8 


8  3-8 

9  3-8 
3  1-4 
3  5-8 
6  1-12 

3  1-2 
2  1-4 

4  1-2 
9  1-2 


S.  E.  1-2  S.  from  the 
Light-House        -    -    - 

Between  Noddle's  island 
and  Chelsea   -    -    -    - 

Between  Nantasket  and 
Bumkin  island    -    -    - 

S.  69  deg.  E. 

Between  Point  Alderton 
and  the  Middle  Brews- 
ter     


Between  Nick's  Mate  and 

Spectacle  island  -  - 
Between  Long  island  and 

the  Great  Brewster  - 
Between  Thomson's   and 

Hangman's   islands 
Between  Long  island  and 

Gallop's  island  -  -  - 
Between  Boston  and  Hog 

island     ------ 

Between  Pettick's  island 

and  Germantowji  -  - 
Between  George's  island 

and    Braintree     Great 

Head 

Between  Sheep  island  and 

Germantown  -  -  - 
Near  Chandler's  island  - 
Between     Gallop's      and 

Hangman's  islands 
S.  S.  W.  from   Rainsford 

island    ------ 

Between   Bumkin   island 

and  Ilingham     -    -    - 

Between  Bumkin  and  Pet- 
tick's  islands       -    -    - 

Between  Bumkin  is'and 
and  Weymouth  river 

Between  Apple  island  and 
Shirley  point      -    -     - 

Between  Castle  and  Long 
islands        -    -    -    -    - 

Between  Long  island  and 
Pettick's  island        -    - 

Between  Moon  island  and 
Dorchester     -    -    -    - 

Near  Maiden  bridge  -    - 


Boston. 

Hull. 

Hull. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Dorchester. 

Boston. 

Boston. 


Quincy. 


Hingham. 
Hull. 


Boston. 
Boston. 


Dorchester. 
Charlestown. 


Chelsea. 
Hull. 


116  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

It  would  be  no  unprofitable  thing  for  you 

to  pass  over  the  several  streets  and  call  to  mind  who  lived  here  so  many  years  ago. 

Increase  Mather. 

Shaw  introduces  the  above  quotation  from  a  lecture  preach- 
ed in  1698,  entitled  theBostonian  Ebenezer,  and  adds  '  who 
does  not  regret  that  the  learned  preacher  has  not  given  us 
the  result  of  these  profitable  inquiries?  Retrospection  lingers 
with  melancholy  delight  on  the  spot  to  which  talents  and 
learning  and  piety  once  gave  importance.'  Presuming  that 
our  readers  partake  in  some  degree  of  this  feeling,  we  have 
been  the  more  minute  in  our  researches  regarding  the  early 
period  of  our  history.  We  have  incidentally  noticed  the 
places  where  Cotton  and  Winthrop  and  Vane  resided.  The 
book  of  possessions  to  which  we  have  referred,  enables  us  to 
point  out  those  of  other  eminent  characters,  about  the  period 
of  1645. 

Gov.  Winthrop1s  neighbour  on  the  opposite  corner  of  the 
springate  was  Elder  Thomas  Oliver,  who  from  several  notices 
in  the  town  records  and  in  the  Govcrnour's  journal,  appears 
to  have  been  an  experienced  and  skilful  surgeon.  He  came 
to  Boston  quite  early,  and  was  a  right  godly  man,  and  his 
wife  also  a  very  godly  woman  that  could  bear  the  severest  of 
afflictions  with  much  patience  and  honour.*  Elder  Thomas 
Leverett,  who  prior  to  his  removal  hither  had  been  an  ancient 
and  sincere  professor  in  Mr.  Cotton's  congregation  in  England, 
had  his  house  and  garden  on  the  east  side  of  the  old  meeting- 
house, with  the  street  on  the  north,  and  the  marsh  of  Mr. 
Winthrop  on  the  south.  That  part  of  Congress  street  north 
of  Water  street  was  long  called  Leverett's  lane  or  street,  in 
remembrance  of  him.  He  was  father  to  John  Leverett, 
who  became  a  very  distinguished  man  in  our  annals.  This 
last,  resided  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Court  street. 

His  next  neighbour  on  the  south  was  Richard  Parker  or 
Brackett,  whose  name  we  find  on  the  colony  records  as 
prison  keeper  so  early  as  1633.  He  had  '  the  market  stead' 
on  the  east,  the  prison  yard  west,  and  the  meeting  house  on 
the  south.  The  other  corner  of  Cornhill  square,  which  used 
to  be  called  Church  square,  was  owned  by  Valentine  Hill,  a 


*  Magnalia,  ii.  306.    Winthrop.  Jan.  9,  1633.     Sept.  17,  1644.    Town  Records,  Sept.  1644. 
Jan.  1647. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTOX.  117 

man  of  eminence  in  town  affairs.  From  these  data  we  ascer- 
tain the  fact,  that  the  county  prison  was  originally  located  about 
the  spot  where  the  jail  lately  stood,  and  that  the  spot  now  oc- 
cupied  by  the  Old  State-house  was  the  ancient  market-place. 

Mr.  Coggan,  who  set  up  the  first  shop  in  Boston,  lived  on 
the  north  side  of  the  market,  at  the  corner  of  State  street. 
He  probably  purchased  of  Mr.  Wilson  the  minister,  who  own- 
ed north  and  east  of  him.  On  this  lot  Mr.  Wilson  had  a  house, 
two  gardens,  a  barn  and  a  yard  :  out  of  this  he  sold  a  lot  of 
45  feet  in  front,  between  him  and  Mr.  Coggan,  to  John  Da- 
vies,  which  makes  it  quite  likely  that  his  dwelling  house  was 
very  near  the  new  Branch  bank,  and  that  WTilson's  lane  takes 
its  name  from  him.  WTe  may  be  permitted  to  add  the  hope 
that  the  name  will  always  be  retained.  It  can  do  posterity  no 
harm  to  be  reminded  that  there  were  good  men,  though  it  may 
be  irksome  to  imitate  them. 

Capt.  Keayne  lived  on  the  other  corner  of  State  street,  op- 
posite the  market-stead  :  Major  (so  they  called  Major  Gene- 
ral) Edward  Gibbons'  dwelling  house,  with  other  housing  and 
a  garden,  were  situated  on  the  bend  opposite  the  lower  end  of 
Market  street,  so  as  to  give  him  the  street  on  the  west  and  the 
north.  William  Pierce  owned  an  estate,  extending  from  State 
street  north  to  the  cove,  in  the  direction  of  Flagg  alley,  which 
a  long  time  bore  his  name.  Samuel  Cole,  who  in  the  name 
of  Richard,  figures  so  demurely  by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  the 
Peep  at  the  Pilgrims,  lived  on  the  west  side  of  Merchants'  row, 
mid-way  from  State  street  to  Faneuil  Hall,  and  there  kept  his 
tavern ;  which  it  will  be  remembered  was  the  first  in  the  town, 
and  which  Lord  Leigh  declared  was  so  well  regulated,  that  he 
could  be  as  private  there  as  he  could  have  been  at  the  Gover- 
nour's  own  house.* 

Capt. William  Tyng,  sometime  treasurer  for  the  country,  had 
a  house,  one  close,  a  garden,  one  great  yard  and  one  little 
yard  before  the  hall  windows,  bounded  with  Mr.  Richard  Bel- 
lingham  and  the  street  that  goes  to  the  dock  southwards.  This 
sets  him  on  the  tongue  of  land  between  Brattle  and  Washing- 
ton streets,  now  known  as  Market  Row,  and  gives  Mr.  B.  an 
estate  about  the  end  of  Market  street.  The  latter  probably 
resided  there,  but  he  had  also  a  garden  plot  next  but  one  to 
Mr.  Cotton's  on  Common  (late  Tremont)  street. 

Mr.  Henry  Dunster,  first  president  of  Harvard  college, 
owned  the  north  east  corner  of  Court  street.  Daniel  Maud, 
one  of  the  earliest  schoolmasters,  lived  next  south  of  Mr.  Cot- 
ton, now  the  noble  mansion  of  Lt.  Gov.  Phillips.  The  corner 
of  Beacon  street  opposite  the  chapel  was  Mr.  Coggan's  estate, 
and  had  then  the  burying  place  adjoining  it  on  the  east.     On 

*  Winthrop,  June,  1637. 


118  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

the  other  side  of  this  burial  ground,  fronting  south  on  School 
street,  was  the  house  and  garden  of  Thomas  Scottow,  joiner, 
who,  in  Feb.  1644,  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  graves, 
gates  and  fences.  He  and  Mr.  Richard  Hutchinson  divided 
the  north  side  of  School  street.  Zaccheus  Bosworth  lived  at 
the  corner  on  the  west  end,  and  those  southward  of  him  had 
the  common  on  their  west.  The  south-east  corner  of  School 
street  was  the  estate  of  Mr.  Atherton  Hough,  (sometimes  spelt 
Hoffe :)  he  was  often  a  representative  of  the  town  in  the  gene- 
ral courts.  His  neighbour  on  School  street  was  Arthur  Perry, 
worthy  of  note  as  town  drummer  on  all  important  occasions. 
His  services  entitled  him  to  a  salary  of  £5  in  1638,  and  pro- 
vision was  made  in  1643,  for  the  instruction  of  such  as  were 
candidates  to  become  his  successors.  A  barber  by  the  name 
of  Francis  Lisle* kept  opposite  to  where  the  Old  South  stands, 
and  three  doors  above  him  was  William  Aspinwall,  who  was 
a  notary  publick  and  recorder,  after  his  return  from  banish- 
ment. His  estate  extended  from  the  main  or  high  street,  to 
the  common,  and  we  find  the  name  of  Bomsted  near  him. 

At  the  south-east  corner  of  Winter  street  was  the  widow 
Jane  Parker,  and  on  the  opposite  corner,  Robert  Blott. 
Boylston  market  place  belonged  to  an  Oliver,  and  the  opposite 
corner  to  Robert  Wing.  Deacon  Colburn  westward  of  whom 
there  were  six  lots,  Belcher,  Talmage,  Snow,  Walker,  Brisco, 
Flacke,  lived  on  the  high  street  at  the  northerly  corner  of 
Elliot  street,  and  deacon  Jacob  Elliot,  from  whom  the  street 
derived  its  name,  was  his  neighbour  on  the  south  corner.  We 
find  no  private  property  south  of  this  :  and  the  next  allotment 
on  the  east  side  of  the  high  street  was  Garret  Bourne's,  at  the 
head  of  Essex  street,  but  so  far  down  as  to  give  him  the  cove 
on  the  south.  His  next  neighbour  was  Edward  Rainsford, 
whose  name  is  still  retained  for  the  lane  that  was  afterwards 
opened  in  the  vicinity  of  his  estate.  Griffith  Bowen  was  on 
the  north  corner  of  Essex  street,  and  Mr  Thomas  Fowle's 
possession  was  one  house  and  garden  five  estates  north  of  him. 
Robert  Woodward  lived  at  the  south  and  Thomas  Wheeler  at 
the  north  corner  of  Bedford  street,  the  latter  having  the  lane  S. 
the  high  street  W.  the  watering  place  E.  and  Wm.  Blaintaine 
N.  who  also  had  the  watering  place  east.  The  widow  Eliza- 
beth Purton  lived  at  the  south-Avest  corner  of  Summer  street, 
and  Nath.  Woodward,  sen.  who  had  a  numerous  family,  op- 
posite to  her.  Robert  Reinolds  owned  the  corner  of  Milk 
street  opposite  the  Old  South,  and  two  estates  below  him  was 
Nath.  Bishop,  from  whom  came  the  name  of  Bishop's  alley, 
once  appropriated  to  Hawley  street. 


*  It  is  not  certain  whether  he  was  the  barber  chirurgeon,  who  lost  his  life  in  a  snow  stonn, 
while  on  his  way  to  Uoxbiiry  to  draw  a  tooth.    XV.  W.  P.   b.  2.   Gh.  15. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  119 

Jeremy  Houchin,  who  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  was  located 
at  the  corner  of  Hanover  and  Court  streets  (Concert  hall) 
and  had  his  tan-pits  and  tan-yards  there.  Down  that  side  of 
Court  street  were  the  families  of  Makepeace,  Thwing,  Joshua 
Scottow,  (of  whom  we  have  a  memoir  in  the  fourth  volume  of 
the  Hist.  Coll.  2d.  Series.)  Beck,  Brown  and  Biggs.  Thomas 
Marshall,  who  was  a  shoemaker  besides  being  ferryman, 
owned  a  lot  which  falls  near  the  block  between  Union  street 
and  Marshall  lane.  He  had  the  street  S.  W.  and  N.  W.  and 
the  marsh  south-east:  the  extent  of  his  lot  was  about  half  an 
acre.  At  the  north  end  the  whole  sea  board  was  lotted  out, 
beginning  at  the  mill  creek  and  following  the  shore  to  the 
north  end  of  Snow-hill-street :  we  shall  have  occasion  to^ame 
the  families  hereafter.  Sudbury  street  was  occupied  on  both 
sides,  and  lots  extending  from  the  cove  on  the  north  to  the 
lane  (Green  st.)  on  the  south  were  improved  with  dwelling 
houses  and  gardens  as  far  as  'Mill  alley.'  The  rest  of  the 
north  and  west  parts  of  the  town  was  owned  in  large  lots, 
said  to  be  in  the  mill  field  and  new  field.  Among  others  we 
notice  Thomas  Buttolph  who  had  about  five  acres  in  each  of 
those  fields,  an  acre  and  a  half  between  Essex  and  Bedford 
streets,  besides  his  house  and  garden  midway  between  Market 
and  Court  streets.  The  name  of  Buttolph  street  may  proba- 
bly be  traced  to  him.  Capt.  Christopher  Stanley  was  also  a 
large  owner  of  estates  in  various  parts,  and  was  Buttolph's 
neighbour  on  the  north.  Ensign  Thomas  Savage  at  one 
time  owned  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  and  a  little  above 
them  Capt.  Thomas  Hawkins,  which  last  had  also  an  estate 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  street  that  bears  his  name.  Near  Fort 
hill  we  find  among  others  the  names  of  Richard  Gridley  and 
Edward  Belcher.  Part  of  Purchase  street  formerly  was 
called  by  the  name  of  the  latter,  and  we  have  now  in  that 
quarter  a  Gridley  lane. 

These  researches  have  informed  us  of  the  number  and  ex- 
tent of  most  of  the  high  ways,  which  existed  at  the  period  of 
twenty  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  town.  The  first  or- 
ders on  record  upon  this  subject  were  passed  in  October, 
1636:  we  have  given  some  extracts  on  page  83,  and  shall  be 
the  more  copious  here,  to  save  the  labour  of  future  inquirers. 

There  was  a  high  way,  sometimes  called  the  high  street, 
laid  out  from  the  head  of  the  dock  to  Mr.  Colburn's  field, 
a  little  south  of  Elliot  street,  and  beyond  that  was  the  'foot 
way  unto  Samuel  Wilbour's  field  next  Roxbury.'  On  the 
east  side  of  this  high  way  Essex  street  was  laid  out,  but  had 
no  particular  name  :  so  was  it  with  Bedford  street,  which  was 
afterwards  called  Pond-street,  with  reference  to  the  watering 
place  to  which  it  led.  Summer  street  and  High  street  had 
the  name  of  Mill  street  or  lane,  because  they  led  to  the  widow 


120  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Tuttle's  mill.  Milk-street  was  called  the  Fort  street,  it  being 
the  thorough  fare  from  the  high  street  to  the  works  at  Fort 
hill.  State  street  is  called  the  Water  street  in  Mr.  Wilson's 
deed.  Court  street  as  far  as  Market  street  had  the  name  of 
Centry  hill  street.  From  the  chapel  burial  ground  north  and 
from  Market  street  west  to  the  bottom  of  Sudbury  street,  the 
way  was  known  as  Sudbury  street,  doubtless  in  reference  to 
the  part  of  England  from  which  many  of  the  Boston  people 
emigrated.  In  March  1640  it  was  ordered  that  the  street 
from  Mr.  Hough's  to  the  Centry  hill  should  be  kept  open  for- 
ever :  this  was  School  street  and  part  of  Beacon  street. 
Winter,  Boylston  and  Elliot  streets  were  at  that  time  lanes. 
The  first  has  at  some  period  borne  the  name  of  Blott's  lane,  from 
Robert  Blott,  the  first  proprietor  of  one  of  the  eastern  corners. 
Hanover  street  north  from  the  mill-creek,  and  also 
Marshall's  lane,  we  think  are  described  in  the  following  pro- 
vision: 1636,  October.  'The  streete  waye  from  the  gates 
next  James  Everill's,  toward  the  Mylne,  is  to  runne  straight 
along  in  an  even  line  to  John  Pemberton's  house,  and  to 
rainge  betweene  Thomas  Marshall's  house  and  Serjeant  Sav- 
age's, and  to  bee  within  the  street  betweene  payle  and  payle 
on  each  side,  two  poles  broad.* 

'  A  layne  to  goe  from  cove  to  cove,  between  Thomas 
Paynter  and  Thomas  Marshall's,  one  pole  and  a  half  between 
payle  and  payle.' 

We  can  trace  nothing  of  Hanover  street  farther  north  :  in 
a  deed  from  Thomas  Clarke  of  Dorchester,  merchant,  to 
Christopher  Stanley  we  find  something  like  the  original  of 
Fleet  and  Tileston  st.  though  it  surprises  us  to  see  one  of  them 
'thirty  six  foote  broad  unto  the  lowermost  highway  and  from 
thence  to  low  water  marke  thirty  foote,'  whereas  the  other 
'  going  towards  the  mill  hill,''  was  only  twelve  foote.  This 
lowermost  highway  was  Ann  Street '  upon  the  sea  bank,'  arid 
before  Walter  Merry's  at  the  North  battery  it  was  16  ft. 
broad.  U  followed  the  shore,  as  we  have  supposed,  to  the 
mill  creek  inlet,  and  was  completed  in  the  following  order. 

'  The  land  at  the  head  of  the  cove,  round  about  by  John 
Glover's,  Geo.  Burden's,  Hugh  Gunnison's,  Capt.  W.  Tyng's, 
Wm.  Franklin's,  Robert  Nash's  and  eight  foot  to  eastward  of 
it,  is  high  wa}^ — as  also  from  the  eastward  side  of  the  8  feet, 
and  round  about  by  the  corner  of  Edw.  Bendall's  brick  house, 
and  so   by  S.    Cole's   house,   as   also    to  E.  Tyng's  wharf 

*  1635.  Dec.  4-    Ordered,  a  fence  to  be  made  between  the  two  necks. 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTON.  121 

shall  go  a  high  way  of  twenty  foot.'*       Here  E.  Tyng  had  a 
house,  yard,  warehouse  and  brew-house. 

There  was  also  a  passage  way  of  seven  foot,  up  from  the 
creek  near  Bendall's  to  the  lower  part  of  Mr.  Keayne's  gar- 
den at  his  mud-wall  house,  in  1639,  which  probably  answers 
to  Wilson's  lane  or  Exchange  street.  And  there  was  a  lane 
by  the  old  meeting  house  :  Henry  Webb,  a  merchant  who 
lived  at  the  corner  had  the  market  place  north,  and  on  the 
east  the  old  meeting  house  and  the  lane,  which  terminated  at 
the  Springate  or  high  way  by  the  spring. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

"  Full  were  our  cities  with  the  sons  of  art, 
And  trade  and  joy  in  every  busy  street 
Mingling  were  heard." 

1  Straits  and  difficulties,'  says  Hutchinson,  ;  at  the  beginning 
of  the  colony  had  produced  industry  and  good  husbandry,  and 
then  they  soon  raised  provisions  enough  for  their  own  support, 
and  an  overplus  for  exportation.  We  hear  but  little  of  trade  for 
the  first  seven  years,  except  a  small  traffick  with  the  natives,  by 
barter  of  toys,  and  the  few  utensils,  tools  and  clothing  they  at 
first  thought  necessary,  in  exchange  for  furs  and  skins.  What 
the  planters  brought  with  them  consisted  principally  of  mate- 
rials for  their  buildings,  necessary  tools  for  their  husbandry, 
stock  for  their  farms,  and  clothing  for  themselves  and  fami- 
lies :  and  those  who  had  more  estate  than  was  sufficient  for 
these  purposes,  were  country  gentlemen,  unacquainted  with 
commerce,  and  never  employed  themselves  in  it.  People  in 
general  turned  their  minds  to  provide  comfortable  lodgings, 
and  to  bring  under  improvement  so  much  land  as  would  afford 
them  necessary  support,  and  this  was  enough  to  employ  them. 
After  a  few  years,  by  hard  labour,  and  hard  fare,  the  land 
produced  more  than  was  consumed  by  the  inhabitants  ;  the 
overplus  was  sent  abroad  to  the  West-Indies,  the  Wine-Islands, 
and  other  places.  Returns  were  made  in  the  produce  of  the 
respective  countries,  and  in  bullion,  the  most  of  which,  togeth- 
er with  the  furs  produced  from  the  natives,  went  to  England, 


*  Town  Records,  Feb.  1649.    The' precise  location  of  Glover,  &c.  is  less  certain  than  that 
of  almost  any  other  persons,  whose  names  occur  to  us.     We  conclude    they  were  situated 
along    Union  street  and  Dock   square,  and  accordingly  have  ventured  to  express  ourselves 
thus  in  defining  the  extent  of  the  dock. 

16 


122  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

to  pay  for  the  manufactures  continually  necessary  from 
thence.  As  hands  could  be  spared  from  husbandry  and  la- 
bour in  providing  their  houses,  they  were  taken  off,  and  some 
employed  in  sawing  boards,  splitting  staves,  shingles  and 
hoops,  others  in  the  fishery,  and  as  many  as  were  capable  of 
it,  in  building  small  vessels  for  the  fishery,  and  for  coasting 
and  foreign  trade.  Thus  gradually  and  insensibly  they  seem 
to  have  fallen  into  that  trade  most  natural  to  the  country,  and 
adapted  to  their  peculiar  circumstances,  without  any  premed- 
itated scheme,  or  projection  for  that  purpose.  Their  prima- 
ry views  in  their  removal,  were  the  enjoyment  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty.  Merchants  and  others,  for  the  sake  of  gain, 
when  they  saw  a  prospect  of  it,  afterwards  came  over,  and  in- 
corporated with  them,  and  caused  a  great  increase  of  com- 
merce, and  led  the  legislators  to  measures  for  the  further  im- 
provement of  it.  For  encouraging  the  fishery,  an  act  was 
made  in  1639  to  free  all  estates,  employed  in  catching,  making 
or  transporting  fish,  from  all  duties  and  public  taxes,  and  all 
persons  were  restrained  by  a  penalty  from  using  any  cod  or 
bass  fish,  for  manuring  the  ground  ;  and  all  fishermen  during 
the  season  for  business,  and  all  ship-builders,  were  by  the 
same  act  excused  from  trainings. 

'  In  the  year  1642  the  House  of  Commons  passed  a  memora- 
rable  resolve  in  favour  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  contain- 
ing this  ordinance:  "  that  all  merchandizing  goods,  that  by 
any  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  merchant  or  other,  shall 
be  exported  out  of  this  kingdom  of  England  into  New-England 
to  be  spent,  used  or  employed  there,  or  being  of  the  growth 
of  those  colonies,  shall  be  from  thence  imported  hither  or 
shall  be  laden  or  put  on  board  any  ship  or  vessel  for  neces- 
saries in  passing  to  and  fro,  and  all  and  every  the  owner  or 
owners  thereof  shall  be  freed  and  discharged  of  and  from  paying 
and  yielding  any  custom,  subsidy,  taxation  or  other  duty,  either 
inward  or  outward.''''  It  had,  however,  this  proviso,  "  until 
the  House  of  Commons  shall  take  further  order  therein  to 
the  contrary."  ? 

Johnson's  account  of  the  extent  of  our  commerce  and  its 
beneficial  effects  is  too  lively  to  be  omitted.  '  Those,'  says  he, 
'  who  were  formerly  forced  to  fetch  most  of  the  bread  they  eat 
and  beer  they  drank  a  thousand  leagues  by  sea,  are  through  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord  so  encreased,  that  they  have  not  only 
fed  their  elder  sisters,  Virginia,  Barbadoes  and  many  of  the 
Summer  islands,  that  were  preferred  before  [them]  for  fruitful- 
n-ass,  but  also  the  grand  mother  of  us  all,  even  the  fertile  isle 
of  Great  Britain.  Beside,  Portugal  hath  had  many  a  mouth- 
ful of  bread  and  fish  from  us,  in  exchange  of  their  Madeira 
liquor,  and  also  Spain;  nor  could  it  be  imagined  that  this  wil- 
derness should  turn  a  mart  for  merchants  in  so  short  a  space. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  123 

'Many  a  fair  ship  had  her  framing  and  finishing  here,  be- 
sides lesser  vessels,  barques  and  ketches.  Many  a  master, 
beside  common  seamen,  had  their  first  learning  in  this  colony. 
Boston,  Charlestovvn,  Salem  and  Ipswich,  our  maritan  towns, 
began  to  increase  roundly  ;  especially  Boston,  the  which  of  a 
poor  country  village,  in  twice  seven  years  is  become  like  unto 
a  small  city  and  is  in  election  to  become  a  mayor  town  sud- 
denly, chiefly  increased  by  trade  by  sea. 

;  All  other  trades  have  here  fallen  into  their  ranks  and  pla- 
ces, to  their  great  advantage  ;  especially  Coopers  and  Shoe- 
makers, who  had  either  of  them  a  Corporation  granted, 
enriching  themselves  by  their  trades  very  much,  Coopers  hav- 
ing their  plenty  of  stuff"  at  a  cheap  rate  and  by  reason  of 
trade  with  foreign  parts  abundance  of  work.  As  for  Tanners 
and  Shoemakers,  it  being  naturalized  into  these  occupations, 
to  have  a  higher  reach  in  managing  their  manufactures,  then 
other  men  in  N.  E.  having  not  changed  their  nature  in  this, 
between  them  both  they  have  kept  men  to  their  stander  hith- 
erto, almost  doubling  the  price  of  their  commodities,  according 
to  the  rate  they  were  sold  for  in  England,  and  3ret  the  plenty 
of  Leather  is  beyond  what  they  had  there,  counting  the  num- 
ber of  the  people,  but  the  transportation  of  Boots  and  Shoes 
into  foreign  parts  hath  vented  all  however:  as  for  Tailors, 
they  have  not  come  behind  the  former,  their  advantage  being 
in  the  nurture  of  new-fashions,  all  one  with  England ;  Car- 
penters, Joiners,  Glaziers,  Painters,  follow  their  trades  only  ; 
Gun-smiths,  Lock-smiths,  Blacksmiths,  Nailors,  Cutlers,  have 
left  the  husbandmen  to  follow  the  plough  and  cart,  and  they 
their  trades  ;  Weavers,  Brewers,  Costermongers,  Feltmakers, 
Braziers,  Pewterers  and  Tinkers,  Ropemakers,  Masons,  Lime, 
Brick,  and  Tilemakers,  Cardmakcrs,  to  work  and  not  to  play, 
Turners,  Pumpmakers,  and  Wheelers,  Glovers,  Feltmongers, 
and  Furriers,  are  orderly  turned  to  their  trades,  besides 
divers  sorts  of  Shopkeepers,  and  some  who  have  a  mystery 
beyond  others,  as  have  the  Vintners.' 

It  would  be  wrong  to  pass  unnoticed  the  exertions  of  Hugh 
Peters  towards  exciting  a  commercial  spirit.  '  He  went  from 
place  to  place,  labouring  both  publickly  and  privately  to  raise 
up  men  to  a  publick  frame  of  spirit,'  and  induce  them  to  en- 
gage in  the  fishing  business  and  foreign  commerce.*  It  was  to 
his  influence  that  Salem  owed  her  first  glory,  and  his  counsel  ad- 
vanced her  to  that  rank  in  commerce  which  enabled  her  to  dis- 
pute preeminence  with  Boston  when  local  advantages  gave  su- 
periority to  the  latter. 

The  first  page  of  the  record  September  1,  1634,  speaks  of 
'  a  common  landing  place  between  the  creeks'  and  contains  an 


/ViiUhi-op,  Nov.  1635.    May  1636.    Mass.  H.  C.  1.  vi.  250. 


124  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

order  for  keeping  the  same  clear  of  all  annoyances.*  The  nu- 
merous shipping  which  visited  Boston  from  Holland,  France, 
Spain  and  Portugal,  according  to  Johnson,  early  required  the 
erection  of  wharves  for  their  accommodation.  It  appears  by 
the  records  of  Jan.  1639,  that  some  important  undertaking  of 
this  kind  had  been  commenced  prior  to  that  time,  in  which  the 
town  felt  considerable  interest  :  for  on  the  21st  of  that  month 
'there  is  granted  to  the  overseers  of  the  wharfes  and  crane  an 
hundred  acres  of  land  at  Mt.  Wolaston  next  to  the  allottment 
already  granted,  towards  the  repairing  and  maintaining  of  the 
said  wharfs  and  crane.'  Other  wharves  are  mentioned  in 
1641 ;  particularly,  Nov.  29th,  Valentine  Hill  and  associates 
are  authorized  and  agree  to  build  certain  wharves,  and  keep 
them  in  repair,  on  condition  that  for  every  hundred  pounds 
thus  laid  out  within  five  years,  they  are  to  have  the  improve- 
ment nine  years  thereafter,  and  to  receive  tonnage  and  wharf- 
age. There  are  no  traces  by  which  we  can  ascertain  where 
the  two  first  of  these  wharves  were  situated,  or  whether  the 
last  was  not  a  continuation  of  the  same.  This  cost  per  ac- 
count <£818. 13^.  Ad.  and  the  company  was  granted  four  score 
years  to  possess  and  improve. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  improvement  embraced  some  of 
the  wharves  between  the  Town  dock  and  Long  wharf.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  term  specified  in  the  contract  the  wharf 
and  buildings  thereon  were  to  revert  to  the  town  and  all  be 
left  in  good  repair.  It  is  apparent  from  this  circumstance 
that  the  town  claimed  the  right  of  ownership  in  the  marsh  or 
dock  :  the  same  thing  is  inferrible  from  the  fact  that  individu- 
als desiring  to  wharf  before  their  lots  were  obliged  to  ask  lib- 
erty of  the  town,  and  in  granting  that,  the  town  reserved  the 
right  to  inhabitants  of  coming  to  and  going  from  such  wharves 
free  of  charge,  on  their  own  accounts  ;  but  no  man  was  al- 
lowed to  sail  for  hire  from  another  man's  wharf.  Numerous 
grants  of  this  nature  were  made  almost  every  year  from  this 
time  till  1673,  when  the  great  work  of  constructing  what  has 
since  been  called  the  Old  Wharf  was  accomplished. 

The  origin  of  the  mill  creek  is  to  be  traced  in  the  following 
record.  July  31,  1643.  There  is  granted  unto  Henry  Si- 
mons, G.  Burden,  John  Button,  John  Hill  and  their  partners 
all  that  cove  (already  bounded)  on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the 
causey  leading  toward  Charleston,  with  all  the  salt  marish 
bordering  thereupon,  round  about,  not  formerly  granted  to 
any  other,  reserving  liberty  from  time  to  time  to  make  use  of 
any  part  thereof  for  repairing  the  said  causey,  to  have  and 
enjoy  the  said  cove  and  marsh  to  them  and  their  heirs  and 
assigns  for  ever. 


*  Shaw,  72. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  125 

2.  The  said  grant  is  for  this  intent  and  upon  this  condition  ; 
that  the  said  grantees  shall  within  the  space  of  three  years 
erect  and  make  upon  or  near  the  premises  one  or  more  corn 
mills  and  maintain  the  same  forever. 

3.  Provides  for  a  flood  gate. 

4.  Appropriates  300  acres  of  land  at  Braintree  for  the  use 
and  encouragement  of  the  said  mills. 

5.  That  if  they  shall  carry  their  mill  stream  through  the 
marsh  on  the  northeast  end  of  Goodman  Low's*  house,  they 
have  60  feet  in  breadth  throughout  the  said  marsh  granted 
unto  them. 

6.  They  shall  have  liberty  to  dig  one  or  more  trenches  in  the 
highways  or  waste  grounds,  so  as  they  make  and  maintain 
sufficient  passable  and  safe  ways  over  the  same  for  horse  and 
cart. 

7.  The  town  will  not  allow  any  other  common  mill  to  be 
erected,  except  the  necessary  occasion  of  the  town  require  it. 

8.  The  selectmen  shall  procure  what  free  help  they  can, 
by  persuasion,  upon  any  pressing  occasion  of  use  of  many 
hands,  about  making  the  banks  or  trenches  etc.  for  the  better 
furtherance  of  the  work  to  be  speedily  effected. 

The  grantees  proceeded  to  carry  into  execution  their  part 
of  this  project.  We  sometimes  find  the  trench  which  was 
thus  formed  called  the  ditch :  but  it  soon  acquired  in  deeds 
the  name  of  Mill  creek  which  it  still  retains.  The  causey 
mentioned  was  not  what  has  in  late  years  been  known  as 
such,  but  the  one  alluded  to,  page  111,  and  in  the  following 
record. 

1640,  March  30.  C.  Stanley  shall  have  all  the  marsh  on 
the  east  side  of  the  way  toward  Charlestown  ferry  for  £l.  10. 
reserving  eight  feet  in  breadth  all  along  the  side  of  the  ditch 
by  the  said  high  way  :  and  the  swamp  compassed  by  his  up- 
land for  6s.  Bd.  being  about  half  an  acre.f  The  same  is  also 
mentioned  in  1655.  Oct  29.  Respecting  the  great  causeway 
we  are  not  able  as  yet  to  say  any  thing  more  than  we  find  in 
Shaw,  '  that  the  Indians  had  a  foot  path  over  the  highest  part 
of  the  marsh  or  flats,  which  was  raised  and  widened  by  a 
Mr.  Crabtree  to  retain  the  water  of  the  pond.'  There  was 
such  a  man  and  he  was  by  trade  a  joiner. 

In  process  of  time  mills  for  various  purposes  were  erected 
at  three  places  on  the  margin  of  the  pond  thus  formed.  One 
at  the  west  end  of  the  creek,  which  was  called  the  South 
mills ;    others'   at  the  north-east  end  of  the  causeway  called 


*  Goodman  Low's  marsh  was  at  the  extremity  of  the  triangle. 

t  The  same  paragraph  provides  that  there  shall  be  a  high  way  reserved  through  the  mill- 
field,  two  rods  in  breadth,  from  the  W.  corner  of  M.  Chafllth's  garden  unto  the  little  house  by 
the  said  swamp,  and  from  thence  to  the  wind  mill  as  directly  as  the  land  mitt  bear. 


126  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

the  North  mills  and  the  Chocolate  mills,  and  another  at  the 
south-west  end  of  the  causeway.  This  however  did  not  take 
place  seasonably  to  prevent  the  erection  of  a  mill  at  Fox-hill  in 
1649,  at  which  time  there  was  also  one  at  Fort  hill  and  anoth- 
er in  the  new  field.  There  was  a  watermill  previously  at 
Mt.  Wolaston,  in  1639  :  the  "  first  in  the  colony  "  was  erected 
at  Dorchester,  on  Neponset  river  in  the  year  1633.  The 
creek  very  soon  became  a  sort  of  boundary  (which  has  con- 
tinued to  this  day)  between  the  north  and  south  parts  of  the 
town,  and  we  find  it  so  recognised  in  the  appointment  of  two 
superintendants  of  streets  in  1651,  of  whom  one  was  'for  the 
Northend  and  one  for  the  Southend,  the  mill  creek  to  be  the 
division.1 

The   Northend  people   seem  to  have  undertaken  at  their 
own  expence  the  construction  of  the  north  battery.     The   af- 
fair with  Captain  Stagg  had  made  the  Bostonians  a  little  jeal- 
ous  of  the  armed  vessels  which  visited  their  port,    and  they 
had    been    at   great   cost  to  put  the  castle  and  Fort  hill  in  a 
state   of  defence.      Another  difficulty  of  a  similar  nature  oc- 
curred in  1644  with  one  Capt.  Richardson,  who  undertook  to 
make  seizure  of  a  Dartmouth  ship  that  lay  in  the  harbour,  but 
which   the    authorities   here    had    determined    to  seize  them- 
selves,   by   way  of  reprisal  for  a  Boston  ship  that  had  been 
taken  in  Wales  by  the  king's  party.      Officers    were   put   on 
board  the  vessel,  and  Capt.  R.  was  warned  to  desist;  this  he 
either  could  not  or  would  not  do  ;  his  men  boarded  the  vessel 
and  the  captain  of  her  was  made  prisoner.       The  Governour 
hereupon    ordered   Capt.  R.  to  come  on  shore  to  account  for 
his  conduct.     His  men  were  so  unruly  that  he  feared  to  leave 
them,  and  he  declined  obeying  the  command.     Upon    this   a 
warning  piece  was  fired  at  him  from  the  battery,  which  cut  a 
rope  in  the  head  of  his  ship :  one  of  his  men  was  about  to   re- 
turn   the    fire  but  was  providentially  prevented.     A  stranger 
who    was   in   the    battery    fired  another  gun,  without  orders, 
which    however  did   no  damage,  except  a  slight  injury  to  the 
prize   ship   in    question.      Forty   men  were  then  sent  aboard 
and  took  possession  of  her,  and  Capt.  Richardson  came  ashore 
and  acknowledged  his  errour  and   his  sorrow  for  what  he  had 
done.      '  So   we  ordered  him  to  pay  a  barrel  of  powder,  and 
to   satisfy    the   officers   and    soldiers   we  had   employed  and 
other  expenses,  and  dismissed  him.'     The  reason  of  their  be- 
ing so  easy  with  him  was  that   '  there  was  no  hurt  done,    nor 
had    he    made  one  shot;    for  if  he  had,  we  were  resolved  to 
have   taken   or  sunk  him,   which  we  might  easily  have  done, 
lying    close    under   our    battery   so  as  we  could  have  played 


Mass.  H.  C.  1.  ix.  164.    Town  Records,  Jan.  1651.  f  Winthrop,  Sept.  1644. 


HISTORY    OT   BOSTON-.  127 

upon   him,  with   whole  culverin  or   demi-culverin,  six  hours 
together.' 

It  is  not  improbable  that  such  occurrences  as  these  led  the 
north-end  people  to  think  it  prudent  to  have  a  suitable  work 
of  defence,  for  the  protection  of  their  part  of  the  town  from 
insolent  aggressions.  Accordingly,  preparations  were  made 
for  fortifying  somewhere  about  Walter  Merry's  point.  It  was 
the  point  now  known  by  the  name  of  Battery  or  North  Bat- 
tery wharf.  The  position  was  well  selected,  commanding 
the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  and  the  river  also,  as  high  up  as 
vessels  of  large  size  would  have  been  likely  to  venture.  The 
work  was  completed  in  the  course  of  the  year  1646,  when  we 
have  the  following  record  concerning  it : 

'  Proposicions  presented  to  the  townsmen,  on  the  behalfe 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  north  end  of  the  towne  of  Boston,  the 
ratification  whereof  is  desired,  and  the  registeringe  of  them  in 
the  towne  records, 

'  1.  That  we  of  this  end  of  the  towne,  whose  harts  the 
Lord  hath  made  willing  to  set  about  erecting  and  maintenance 
of  a  fortification  att  Walter  Merry's  point,  may  for  the  future 
bee  freed  from  all  rates  and  assessments  to  what  other  forti- 
fications bee  in  the  towne,  until  such  time  as  the  other  part  of 
the  towne,  not  joyning  with  us  herein,  shall  have  disbursed, 
and  layd  out  in  equall  proporcion  of  their  estates  with  ours, 
as  by  trew  account  may  appeare. 

'  2.  That  the  land  gained  at  the  towne's  charge,  and  stack- 
ed out  to  the  towne's  service  by  those  deputed  for  that  end, 
to  the  raysinge  of  a  work  upon,  may  not  by  any  to  their  pri- 
vate occations,  be  imployed  or  made  use  of;  as  that  the 
ground  nor  flatts,  before  the  sayd  worke  may  not  be  disposed 
of  by  the  towne  unto  any  particular  man's  imployment,  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  said  worke.' 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  what  must  have  been  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  when  so  great  a  work  was  undertaken  in  such  a  way  : 
it  evinced  a  growing  readiness  in  the  people  to  maintain 
their  rights  with  their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred 
honour.  Johnson's  account  of  the  castle  affords  us  a  pleasant 
view  of  this  subject.  'To  say  right,'  (says  he,  b.  ii.  ch.  xxvi.) 
4  some  particular  persons  may  be  penurious  in  laying  out  their 
estates  upon  ammunition,  but  the  general  of  Officers  and  soul- 
diers  are  very  generous  that  way :  the  reverend  Doctor  Wil- 
son gave  bountifully  for  the  furthering  this  Wilderness-work, 
the  which  was  expended  upon  great  Artillery,  his  gift  being  a 
thousand  pound  ;  beside  many  persons  that  came  over,  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  indow  with  a  large  portion  of  the  things 
of  this  life,  who  were  not  backward  liberally  to  dispose  of  it, 
to  procure  means  of  defence.  And  to  that  end  there  was  a 
castle  built  on  an  Island,  upon  the  passage  into  the   Mattachu- 


12o  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 

Bay,  wholly  built  at  first  by  the  country  in  general,  but  by 
reason  the  country  affords  no  Lime,  but  what  is  burnt  of 
Oyster-shels,  it  fell  to  decay  in  a  few  years  after,  which  made 
many  of  the  Towns  that  lay  out  of  the  defence  thereof  to  de- 
sert it,  although  their  safety  (under  God)  was  much  involved 
in  the  constant  repair  and  well-mannaging  thereof ;  hereupon 
the  next  six  Towns  take  upon  them  to  rebuild  it  at  their  pro- 
per cost  and  charges,  the  rest  of  the  country  upon  the  finish- 
ing thereof  gave  them  a  small  matter  toward  it ;  upon  this 
there  was  a  Captain  ordained,  and  put  in  possession  thereof 
by  the  country,  having  a  yearly  Stipend  allowed  him  for  him- 
self and  his  souldiers,  which  he  is  to  keep  in  a  constant 
readiness  upon  the  Island,  being  about  eight  acres  of  ground. 
4  The  Castle  is  built  on  the  North-East  of  the  Island,  upon  a 
rising  hill,  very  advantageous  to  make  many  shot  at  such  ships 
as  shall  offer  to  enter  the  Harbor  without  their  good  leave 
and  liking;  the  Commander  of  it  is  one  Captain  Davenport,  a 
man  approved  for  his  faithfulness,  courage  and  skill,  the  Mas- 
ter Canoneer  is  an  active  Ingineer ;  also  this  Castle  hath  cost 
about  four  thousand  pounds,  yet  are  not  this  poor  pilgrim 
people  weary  of  maintaining  it  in  good  repair ;  it  is  of  very 
good  use  to  awe  any  insolent  persons,  that  putting  confidence 
in  their  ship  and  sails,  shall  offer  any  injury  to  the  people,  or 
contemn  their  Government,  and  they  have  certain  signals  of 
alarums,  which  suddenly  spread  through  the  whole  country.' 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

— ; It  being  as  unnatural  for  a  right  N.  E.  man 

ta  lire  without  an  able  Ministery,  as   for  a  Smith  to  worke  his  iron  without   a   Fire. 

W.  W.  P. 

It  has  been  so  often  repeated  that  it  is  now  generally  be- 
lieved the  north  part  of  the  town  was  at  that  period  the  most 
populous.  We  are  convinced  that  the  idea  is  erroneous.  We 
have  reason  to  suppose  that  almost  every  householder  in 
Boston  was  a  member  of  the  first  church,  and  it  appears  there 
had  been  admitted  only  306  men,  down  to  the  latter  end  of 
1652.  Of  these  we  know  some  had  died  and  others  removed. 
The  book  of  possessions  records  the  estates  of  about  250,  the 
number  of  their  houses,  barns,  gardens,  and  sometimes  the 
measurement  of  their  lands.  It  seems  to  embrace  the  period 
from  1640  to  1650,  and  we  conclude,  gives  us  the  names  of 
almost,  if  not  quite,  all  the  freemen  of  Boston.  They  were 
settled   through  the  whole  length  of  the  main  street  on  both 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  129 

sides,  from  Elliot-street  to  the  market,  excepting  only  the 
small  green  near  the  Old  South.  The  cross  streets  on  either 
side  were  all  occupied  :  Elm-street,  the  upper  part  of 
Hanover-street,  Sudbury-street,  and  Green-street  on  the 
north  side,  were  all  appropriated  for  house  lots.  It  is  evident 
too,  that  the  most  wealthy  and  influential  characters  lived  in 
what  is  now  the  centre  of  the  town.  We  discover  only  about 
thirty  names  of  residents  north  of  the  creek.  Among  them 
were  Copp,  Goodzvin,  Shoare,  Sweet,  Seaberry,  Bourne,  Clark, 
Joy,  Rawlins,  Cullimer,  Merry,  Passmer,  F.  Hudson,  Chaffie 
(a  shipwright,)  Gallop,  Meekins,  Millam,  John  Hill,  Bennett, 
Phillips,  Gibson,  Jones:  some  others  were  owners  of  field 
lots  :  C.  Stanley  owned  fifteen  acres.* 

It  is  probable,  however,  that  an  increase  of  business  began 
to  be  perceived  at  the  north  end  about  this  time,  and  that  re- 
movals began  to  be  made  into  it,  which  resulted  in  its  becom- 
ing '  for  many  years  the  most  populous  and  elegant  part  of  the 
town.'  For  we  find  that  when  another  meeting  house  was 
judged  necessary,  to  accommodate  the  population,  it  was 
deemed  expedient  to  place  it  in  that  quarter.  This  was  clone 
in  1649,  when  the  house  was  erected  at  the  head  of  the  North 
Square.  A  church  was  gathered  there  on  the  fifth  day  of 
June  the  next  year,  and  consisted  at  first  of  seven  members. 
Their  names  were  Michael  Powell,  James  Ashwood,  Christo- 
pher Gibson,  John  Phillips,  George  Davis,  Michael  Wills, 
John  Farnam.  A  sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion,  by 
Samuel  Mather,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  He  was 
earnestly  solicited  to  remain  as  pastor  of  the  new  church, 
but  declined  the  invitation. f 


*  The  306,  mentioned  in  this  paragraph,  joined  after  Mr.  Cotton's  arrival  :  130  had  joined 
before  that  :  the  removals  carried  away  very  many  to  Charlestown,  Rhode  Island,  Exeter, 
the  Somers  Islands,  besides  those  who  were  settled  at  Braintree,  Romney  Marsh  and  Muddjr 
river,  and  others  who  had  returned  to  England. 

t  Rev.  Mr.  Wart's  Historical  Discourses. 

Covenant  of  the  Old  North  Church. 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  called  of  God  to  enter  into  church  fellow- 
ship, knowing  and  considering  our  own  great  unworthiness  and  unfitness  for  so  near  ap- 
proaches to  so  holy  a  God,  and  how  apt  we  are  to  start  aside  from  him  and  from  the  rules 
of  his  gospel  and  government  over  us,  we  therefore  desire  to  lament  as  in  his  sight  the 
inconstancy  of  our  own  spirits  with  him  and  our  former  neglects  of  him,  and  pollutions  of 
his  house  and  boly  things  by  our  personal  corruptions  and  unworthy  walkings  :  and  do  be- 
seech him  for  his  name's  sake  to  prevent  us  with  mercy,  and  accept  us  under  the  wings  of 
his  own  everlasting  covenant. 

And  in  dependance  upon  his  free  grace  therein,  in  his  name  and  strength  we  freely  this 
day,  in  the  presence  of  the  everliving  God,  do  avouch  the  Lord  to  be  our  God,  and  ourselves 
to  be  his  people,  and  so  yield  up  ourselves  to  him  by  an  holy  covenant  of  faith  and  love  attd 

17 


130  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

This  event  brings  us  near  to  the  time  when  Johnson  sketch- 
ed his  description  of  Boston,  which  was  ready  for  publica- 
tion in  1651.  We  present  the  twentieth  chapter  of  his  first 
book,  without  variation,  that  our  readers  may  have  one  speci- 
men of  the  manner  in  which  the  work  was  executed. 

Johnson's  description. 

'  After  some  little  space  of  time  the  Church  of  Christ  at 
Charles  Towne,  having  their  Sabbath  assemblies  oftenest  on 
the  South  side  of  the  River,  agreed  to  leave  the  people  on 
that  side  to  themselves,  and  to  provide  another  Pastor  for 
Charles  Towne,  which  accordingly  they  did.  So  that  the 
fourth  Church  of  Christ  issued  out  of  Charles  Towne,  and 
was  seated  at  Boston,  being  the  Center  Towne  and  Metropo- 
lis of  this  Wildernesse  worke  (but  you  must  not  imagine  it  to 
be  a  Metropolitan  Church)  invironed  it  is  with  Brinish  flouds, 
saving  one  small  Istmos,  which  gives  free  accesse  to  the  Neigh- 
bour Townes  ;  by  Land  on  the  South  side,  on  the  North-west, 
and  North  East,*  two  constant  Faires  are  kept  for  daily 
traffique  thereunto,  the  forme  of  this  Towne  is  like  a  heart, 
naturally  scituated  for  Fortifications,  having  two  Hills  on  the 
frontice  part  thereof  next  the  Sea,  the  one  well  fortified  on 
the  superfices  thereof,  with  store  of  great  Artillery  well  mount- 
ed, the  other  hath  a  very  strong  battery  built  of  whole  Tim- 
ber, and  filled  with  Earth,  at  the  descent  of  the  Hill  in  the 
extreme  poynt  thereof  betwixt  these  two  strong  armes  lies 
a  large  Cove  or  Bay,  on  which  the  chiefest  part  of  this  Town 
is  built,  over-topped  with  a  third  Hill,  all  three  like  over-top- 
ping Towers  keepe  a  constant  watch  to  fore-see  the  approach 
of  forrein  dangers,  being  furnished  with  a  Beacon  and  lowd 
babbling  Guns,  to  give  notice  by  their  redoubled  eccho  to  all 
their  Sister-tow nes,  the  chief  Edifice  of  this  City-like  Towne 
it  crowded  on  the  Sea-bankes,  and  wharfed  out  with  great  in- 
dustry and  cost,  the  buildings  beautifull  and  large,  some  fairely 


loyalty,  to  cleave  to  him  and  to  one  another  in  him,  to  cleave  to  God  in  Christ  as  our  sov- 
ereign good,  and  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  only  mediator  and  surety  of  the  covenant, 
as  our  only  high  priest  and  atonement  to  satisfy  for  us  and  to  save  us,  and  as  our  only 
prophet  to  guide  and  teach  us,  and  as  our  only  king  and  lawgiver  to  reign  over  us  :  as 
also  to  attend  upon  him  and  the  service  of  his  holy  will,  by  walking  together  as  a  congrega- 
tion and  church  of  Christ  in  all  the  ways  of  his  worship  and  of  mutual  love  and  special 
watchfulness  one  over  another,  according  to  his  will  which  is  revealed  to  us  by  his  word  ; 
subjecting  ourselves  in  the  Lord  to  all  his  holy  administrations  in  his  church,  beseeching 
him  to  own  us  for  his  people,  and  to  delight  to  dwell  in  the  midst  of  us,  that  his  kingdom 
and  grace  may  be  advanced  by  us. 

Which  sacred  covenant  that  we  may  observe  and  all  the  branches  of  it  inviolate  forever 
we  desire  to  deny  ourselves,  and  to  depend  alone  upon  the  promise  of  his  spirit  and  grace,, 
and  upon  the  merits  and  mercies  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  assistance  and  for  acceptance, 
for  healing  and  forgiving  mercy  for  his  own  sake. 

*  [There  is  access  by  ferries,  from  Charlestown  and  Winnesimet.] 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTOK.  131 

set  forth  with  Brick,  Tile,  Stone  Slate,  and  orderly  placed 
with  comly  streets,  whose  continual!  inlargement  presages 
some  sumptuous  City.  The  wonder  of  this  modern  Age,  that 
a  few  yeares  should  bring  forth  such  great  matters  by  so 
meane  a  handfull,  and  they  so  far  from  being  inriched  by  the 
spoiles  of  other  Nations,  that  the  states  of  many  of  them  have 
been  spoiled  by  the  Lordly  Prelacy,  whose  Lands  must  as- 
suredly make  Restitutions.  But  now  behold  the  admirable 
Acts  of  Christ,  at  this  his  peoples  landing,  the  hideous  Thick- 
ets in  this  place  were  such,  that  the  Wolfes  and  Beares  nurst 
up  their  young  from  the  eyes  of  all  beholders,  in  those  very 
places  where  the  streets  are  full  of  Girles  and  Boys  sporting 
up  and  downe,  with  a  continued  concourse  of  people.  Good 
store  of  Shipping  is  here  yearly  built,  and  some  very  faire 
ones  :  both  Tar  and  Mastes  the  Countrey  affords  from  its  own 
soile  ;  also  store  of  Victuall  both  for  their  own  and  Forrein- 
ers-ships,  who  resort  hither  for  that  end  :  this  Town  is  the 
very  Mart  of  the  Land,  French,  Portugalls  and  Dutch,  come 
hither  for  traffique.' 

Respecting  the  second  church,  which  he  makes  the  thirtieth 
in  the  colony,  he  saj's  Book  iii.  ch.  7.)  '  the  north-east  part 
of  the  town  being  separated  from  the  other  with  a  narrow 
stream  cut  through  a  neck  of  land  by  industry,  whereby  that 
part  is  become  an  island,  it  was  thought  meet  that  the  people 
inhabiting  the  same  should  gather  into  a  church  body,  and 
build  a  meeting-house  for  their  assembly,  the  which  they  have 
already  done,  but  not  as  jet  called  any  one  to  office.' 

Several  of  the  distinguished  ministers  of  that  period,  who 
were  officers  in  other  churches,  but  likely  to  remove  from 
their  places,  were  invited  unsuccessfully  to  take  charge  of 
this  congregation.  For  a  few  years,  therefore,  one  of  the 
brethren,  Michael  Powell,  conducted  the  worship,  and  to  such 
satisfaction,  that  he  would  have  been  ordained  teacher,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  interference  of  the  General  Court,  who 
6  would  not  suffer  one  that  was  illiterate,  as  to  academical  ed- 
ucation, to  be  called  to  the  teaching  office  in  such  a  place  as 
Boston.'  There  was  a  law  in  existence  that  no  minister 
should  be  called  into  office,  in  any  church  in  this  jurisdiction, 
without  the  approbation  and  allowance  of  some  of  the  ma- 
gistrates. Mr.  Powell  was  a  man  of  sense  and  good  charac- 
ter; the  objection  to  him  was  not  that  he  was  a  layman,  but 
that  he  was  wanting  in  learning,  and  they  would  not  suffer 
him  to  be  a  publick  teacher,  lest  occasion  should  be  given  to 
introduce  such  more  generally,  if  allowed  in  a  particular  in- 
stance.   The  court  recommended  Mr.  Reyner  from  Plymouth. 

After  four  years  passed  in  this  condition,  Mr.  John  Mayo, 
who  on  account  of  some  difficulties  and  discouragements  had 
left  his  people  at  Nosset,  (Eastham?)  was  called  to  the  pastoral 


132  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

office  here,  and  ordained  the  9th  of  November,  1655.  At  the 
same  time,  Mr.  Powell  was  ordained  as  ruling  elder  of  the 
church.  Mr.  M.  administered  the  seals,  and  Mr.  P.  continu- 
ed to  preach  publickly  in  a  constant  way. 

We  are  told  that 'the  gatheringof  this  church  was  evidently 
very  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  Mr.  Cotton,  in  many  of  his 
interests;  but  he  was  a  John,  who  reckoned  his  joy  fulfilled 
if  in  his  own  decrease  he  could  see  the  interests  of  his  Master 
advance  ;  and  therefore,  with  exemplary  self-denial,  he  en- 
couraged its  foundation  :'  he  had  not  the  happiness,  however, 
to  live  to  see  it  established  under  any  other  instructions  than 
those  of  Mr.  Powell. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

"his  reverend  lockes 

In  comelye  curies  did  wave, 

And  on  his  aged  temples  grewe 

The  blossomes  of  the  grave." 

0 

The  death  of  Mr.  Cotton  took  place  towards  the  close  of  the 
year  1652.  In  the  course  of  the  fall,  he  had  been  urgently 
desired  to  visit  the  college  at  Cambridge  and  preach  a  sermon 
to  the  students.  He  was  exposed  to  the  wet,  in  his  passage 
across  the  ferry  for  that  purpose,  and  took  cold,  which  was 
followed  with  an  inflammation  of  the  lungs, .  attended  with 
asthmatick  affections  and  other  symptoms  of  alarming  charac- 
ter. He  preached  occasionally  afterwards,  and  his  last  ser- 
mon was  on  the  Lord's  day  Nov.  21,  from  John  i.  14.  We 
beheld  his  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father. 
His  impressions  of  his  near  approach  to  the  grave  were  so 
strong,  that  at  the  preceding  Thursday  lecture  he  had  hasten- 
ed to  close  his  exposition  of  the  second  of  Timothy,  and  dwelt 
with  increased  emphasis  on  the  last  words,  grace  be  with  you 
all  :  thus,  as  it  were,  he  bade  his  people  farewell,  and  his 
appearance  on  this  sabbath  was  both  to  him  and  to  them,  like 
a  visit  from  the  unseen  world.  He  spent  the  succeeding  day 
in  private  devotion,  and  on  quitting  his  study  at  night,  said  to 
his  wife,  I  shall  go  into  that  room  no  more  ! — The  event  prov- 
ed the  correctness  of  his  forebodings :  from  that  time  he  went 
no  more  out. 

While  he  thus  lay  sick,  the  magistrates,  and  the  ministers 
of  the  country,  and  christians  of  all  ranks,  resorted  to  him 
as  to  a  publick  father,  full  of  sad  apprehensions  for  the  loss 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  133 

they  were  about  to  sustain.  A  short  time  before  his  death  he 
desired  to  be  left  alone,  that  he  might  fix  his  thoughts,  without 
interruption,  on  his  great  and  last  change.  So,  lying  speech- 
less a  few  hours,  he  expired  about  noon,  on  Thursday  the 
23d  of  December,  having  just  completed  his  sixty-seventh 
year.* 

Strange  and  alarming  signs  appeared  in  the  heavens,  while 
his  body  lay,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  till  the 
Tuesday  following,  l  when  it  was  most  honourably  interred, 
with  a  most  numerous  concourse  of  people,  and  the  most 
grievous  and  solemn  funeral,  that  was  ever  known,  perhaps, 
upon  the  American  strand  ;  and  the  lectures  in  his  church, 
the  whole  winter,  were  but  so  many  funeral  sermons  upon  the 
death  and  worth  of  this  extraordinary  person.' 

Mr.  Cotton's  memory  did  not  receive  so  much  attention 
from  his  cotemporaries  without  his  well  deserving  it :  for  in 
the  language  of  the  '  Old  Men's  Tears''  he  was  in  his  life, 
light  and  learning,  the  brightest  and  most  shining  star  in  their 
firmament.  He  was  born  at  Derby,  December  4,  1585.  His 
father,  Mr.  Roland  Cotton,  was  a  lawyer,  a  man  of  piety  and 
respectability,  and  his  mother  a  pious  woman.  Without  a 
great  property  to  encourage  them,  they  resolved  on  giving 
their  son  a  learned  as  well  as  religious  education.  He  was 
accordingly  qualified  for  the  university,  and  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  was  admitted  into  Trinity  college,  Cambridge.  His 
proficiency  in  his  studies  excited  admiration,  and  procured 
him  an  invitation  to  Emmanuel  college,  where  he  was  soon 
elected  to  a  fellowship,  and  afterwards  became  head-lecturer, 
dean,  and  catechist.  He  acquired  so  exact  a  knowledge  of 
the  Hebrew  as  to  be  able  to  converse  in  it,  was  perfectly  fa- 
miliar with  the  Greek,  and  wrote  the  Latin  language  with 
Ciceronian  elegance. 

In  his  twenty-eighth  year  he  removed  from  Cambridge  and 
settled  at  Boston  in  Lincolnshire.  There  his  labours  and 
his  usefulness  were  immense,  and  he  was  exceedingly  belov- 
ed by  the  best,  and  reverenced  by  the  worst  of  his  hearers. 
Through  all  the  times  of  trouble,  which  visited  the  non-con- 
formists, he  was  maintained  in  his  place  by  the  unanimity  of 
his  people.  But  after  the  government  of  the  church  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Bishop  Laud,  divisions  arose  among  the  parish- 
ioners of  Mr.  Cotton.  An  information  was  lodged  against 
him,  (by  a  dissolute  fellow,  who  thought  in  that  way  to  revenge 
himself  on  some  of  Mr.  C's  friends,  for  a  restraint  they  had 
put  upon  him,)  and  being  cited  to  appear  before  the  high-com- 
mission court,  he  thought  it  more  prudent  to  flee  his  country, 
than   to  expose  himself  to  perpetual  imprisonment.     He  was 

*  Magnalia,  Emerson.    The  town  Register  of  deaths  says  15th  Dec.  1652. 


134  HISTORY    OT   BOSTON. 

hesitating  whether  to  choose  Holland,  Barbadoes  or  New- 
England  for  the  place  of  his  retreat,  when  his  mind  was  de- 
termined by  letters  received  from  Gov.  Winthrop,  inviting 
him  in  the  name  of  the  church  to  come  to  Boston.  He  arriv- 
ed here  in  1633,  which  was  the  forty-eighth  year  of  his  age, 
and  immediately  commenced  the  career  of  usefulness,  which 
ended  only  with  his  life.  Nineteen  years  and  odd  months  he 
spent  in  this  place,  doing  good  publickly  and  privately  to  all 
sorts  of  men. 

Mr.  Cotton's  personal  appearance  was  strikingly  impressive. 
His  complexion  was  clear  and  fair,  and  his  countenance 
florid  :  in  size  he  was  rather  short  and  inclining  to  corpulent, 
but  in  the  whole  of  an  agreeable  mediocrity.  In  his  youth, 
his  hair  was  brown,  but  as  he  advanced  in  life  it  became  as 
white  as  the  driven  snow.  The  colour  of  his  eye  his  'proso- 
pographer'  omitted  ;  but  we  know  its  glance  flashed  the  keen- 
est rebuke  on  every  appearance  of  evil,  and  smiled  the  heart- 
iest approbation  on  every  worthy  action.  He  had  a  clear, 
neat  and  audible  voice,  which  easily  filled  the  largest  halls. 
His  delivery  was  not  noisy  and  thundering,  yet  it  had  in  it  a 
very  awful  majesty,  set  off  with  a  natural  and  becoming  mo- 
tion of  his  right  hand.  His  style  of  preaching  was  plain,  de- 
signed to  be  understood  by  the  meanest  capacity,  while  his 
more  discerning  hearers  could  perceive  from  it  that  he  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities  and  research. 

He  generally  devoted  twelve  hours  in  a  day  to  his  studies, 
and  composed  his  written  sermons  with  great  care,  though  he 
sometimes  preached  without  any  preparation.  It  was  his 
practice  to  expound,  both  from  the  old  and  new  testaments,  in 
course,  and  to  draw  from  each  subject  a  series  of  '  doctrines 
and  uses.'  In  this  manner  he  went  through  the  whole  bible 
once,  and  had  proceeded  some  ways  a  second  time,  when  he 
was  cut  off  by  the  hand  of  death. 

The  political  and  religious  opinions  of  so  influential  a  per- 
sonage were  matters  of  importance  to  the  infant  plantation. 
The  scope  of  both  may  be  gleaned  from  his  writings,  and  they 
are  substantially  apparent  in  many  of  our  customs  and  laws 
at  the  present  day.  The  Magnalia  tells  us  that  upon  Mr. 
Cotton's  arrival,  the  points  of  church  order  were  revived  with 
more  of  exactness,  and  received  by  the  churches  already 
formed,  and  the  same  were  adopted  by  such  as  rose  after- 
wards. 

'  It  was  an  uncommonly  interesting  epoch  to  the  Boston 
church.  A  fraternity  was  to  be  formed  of  discordant  materi- 
als. Many  of  those  who  composed  the  church  had  been  edu- 
cated Episcopalians,  and  were  therefore  disinclined  to  vary 
from  established  forms.  Others  had  come  to  New-England 
rather  as  adventurers  than  as  christians,  and  could  hardly  be 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  135 

subjected  to  any  ecclesiastical  or  political  rules.  But  the  sa- 
gacity and  ever- watchful  discipline  of  Mr.  Cotton  was  aston- 
ishingly efficacious  towards  conforming  all  descriptions  of 
characters  to  habits  of  obedience  and  order.' 

He  prepared  a  book  which  was  published  in  1644  with  the 
title  of  The  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  in  which  the  princi- 
ples of  Congregational  church  government  are  explained  and 
defended.  This  work  was  long  a  standard  reference  and 
guide  to  the  New  England  congregationalists. 

On  doctrinal  points  Mr.  C.  was  a  calvinist.  He  used  to 
say  to  his  private  friends,  that  he  knew  of  no  difficult  place  in 
the  bible  which  he  had  not  studied  somewhat  to  satisfaction, 
and  that  he  always  loved  to  sweeten  his  mouth  with  a  piece 
of  Calvin  before  he  went  to  sleep. 

His  political  writings  show  him  to  have  been  friendly  to  an 
elective  government,  administered  on  the  principles  of  the  Mo- 
saic laws.  In  a  communication  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  in  1636, 
he  expresses  himself  thus:  '  Democracy  f  do  not  conceive  that 
ever  God  did  ordain  as  a  fit  government,  either  for  church  or 
commonwealth.  As  for  monarchy  and  aristocracy,  they  are 
both  of  them  clearly  approved  and  directed  in  Scripture,  yet 
so  as  referreth  the  sovereignty  to  himself,  and  setteth  up  the- 
ocracy in  both.'  But  he  says  in  another  place,  '  the  authority 
of  the  father  is  no  where  communicated  with  his  honours  to 
all  his  posterity  :  if  God  should  not  delight  to  furnish  some  of 
them  with  gifts  for  magistracy,  we  should  expose  them  rather 
to  reproach  and  prejudice,  and  the  commonwealth  with  them, 
if  we  should  call  them  forth  to  publick  authority.' 

One  instance  of  Mr.  Cotton's  conduct  in  a  political  affair  is 
worthy  to  be  repeated.  '  It  was  moved  in  caucus  by  a  man 
of  some  influence,  that  two  of  their  deputies  of  long  standing, 
who  had  fallen  into  low  circumstances  should  be  dropped 
from  office.  Mr.  C.  hearing  of  the  project,  took  occasion  on 
the  next  lecture  day,  pointedly,  though  prudently,  to  condemn 
it.  He  taught  that  if  old  and  faithful  officers  had  grown  poor 
in  the  publick  service,  they  should  be  maintained  at  the  pub- 
lick  expense.  The  reproof  was  clearly  understood,  and  pun- 
gently  felt  :  for  the  motion  was  never  renewed.' 

Mr.  C.'s  private  virtues  and  domestick  life  were  equally 
exemplary.  His  control  over  his  own  passions  was  almost 
perfect,  and  his  family  government  was  strict,  while  his  cor- 
rections were  cool  and  deliberate.  He  was  liberal  of  his  own 
property,  and,  when  the  necessities  of  any  required  his  exer- 
tions, would  apply  to  the  hearts  of  others  for  their  assistance. 
On  one  occasion  he  thus  collected  £200  from  the  members 
of  his  own  church,  for  the  relief  of  a  persecuted  minister  and 
his  people.  He  lost  his  first  wife  a  few  years  before  his  re- 
moval to  this  country.     His  second,  whose  name  was   Sarah. 


136  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

accompanied  him  to  Boston.  They  had  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  oldest  daughter  and  the  youngest  son  died 
during  their  father's  lifetime,  both  of  them  near  together,  of 
the  small-pox,  which  was  then  (1649)  for  the  first  time  raging 
in  Boston.  Of  the  other  four,  the  elder  daughter  (and  her 
only  child)  died  within  a  few  years  :  the  youngest  became 
the  wife  of  Increase  Mather  :  Seaborn,  the  elder  son,  was  set- 
tled in  Hampton,  and  John,  the  younger,  in  Plymouth,  both 
ministers  of  the  gospel. 

Mr.  Cotton  left  a  will,  in  which  he  provided,  that  on  cer- 
tain contingencies  the  one  half  of  his  estate  should  revert  to 
Harvard  College  and  the  other  half  to  the  support  of  the 
free  school  in  Boston.  Those  contingencies  never  happened. 
He  gave  the  church  a  piece  of  silver  plate  to  be  used  in  com- 
munion service,  which  may  have  been  the  first  they  had,  for 
at  one  time  they  made  use  of  wooden  chalices. 

Others  of  the  first  settlers  were  about  this  time  paying  the 
debt  of  nature.  Capt.  Stanley  is  mentioned  in  April,  1649, 
as  having  left  a  lot  of  land  in  his  will  to  the  school's  use. 
The  widow  Mary  Hudson  bequeathed  ten  pounds  to  the  same 
purpose.  William  Paddy  left  something  to  the  town  in  1658, 
and  Mr.  Henry  Webb  in  1660  demised  £100  to  be  appropri- 
ated either  for  the  use  of  the  school,  or  the  building  some  neat 
house  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  or  supplying  them  with  need- 
ful articles,  as  the  selectmen  might  deem  best.  Capt.  Keayne 
died  on  the  23d  of  March,  1656  :  he  also  remembered  Boston 
in  his  will.  This  unparalleled  document  occupies  157  folio 
pages  of  the  Probate  records,  and  besides  providing  hand- 
somely for  his  relatives  and  his  idol,  the  Great  Artillery,  for 
Harvard  college,  and  his  revered  pastor  and  teacher,  and  the 
poor  of  the  church,  he  bequeaths  to  the  town  about  £500  worth 
towards  the  erection  of  a  market  place  and  town  house,  and 
granary  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  a  conduit  for  security 
against  fire,  and  the  foundation  of  a  library,  and  £50  for  the 
free  school ;  appropriating  a  portion  withal  for  his  own  decent 
and  civil  burial,  which  he  desired  might  be  performed  in  a 
military  way.  His  whole  estate  which  he  enjoined  should  be 
appraised  at  its  fair  value,  not  at  half  price  as  the  custom  of 
some  was,  amounted  to  £2843  19s.  3d.  The  estate  of  Wm. 
Tyng  who  died  about  the  same  time  was  valued  at  £2774  14s. 
Ad.  each  about  1 5000  dollars.  The  amount  of  Mr.  Cotton's 
inventory  was  £1038  4s.    We  add  a  fac  simile  of  his  writing. 


■x 


Ji£il?A\ty  rn.  jfta*  -AiV$ 


'Oil 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


137 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

"  I'll  tear  her  to  pieces ! 

And  dissecting  her  heart,  find  the  witchery  there." 


According  to  usage  formally  established,  by  a  vote  in  1646, 
appointing  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  '  of  the  second  second  day 
of  the  first  month,  in  every  year,'  as  the  time  to  meet  for  the 
choice  of  town  officers,  the  inhabitants  assembled  in  general 
meeting  on  Monday  the  fourteenth  of  March,  1653,  when 
the  town  government  was  organized  as  follows  : 


Deputies  to  General  Court. 

Capts.    John  Leverett, 
Thos.  Clarke. 

Selectmen. 

Ensigns  Edw.  Hutchinson, 
Jere.  Houchin, 

Messrs.  Wm.  Brenton, 
Sam.  Cole, 

Cornet    Peter  Oliver, 
James  Oliver, 
Thos.  Marshall. 

Commissioner  to  carry  in  votes  for 
Magistrates. 

Mr.  Nath.  Duncan. 

Constables  for  town. 

Mr.  Joseph  Rock, 

Henry  Bridgham, 
Barth.  Chevers, 
Wm.  Wenborn. 

For  Romney  Marsh. 

John  Doolittle. 


For  Muddy  River. 

Peter  Aspenwal. 

Clerks  of  the  Market. 

Thomas  Buttalls, 
Corporal  Henry  Pounding. 

Sealers  of  Leather. 

Wm.  Courser, 
Robert  Reade. 

Surveyors  of  high  ways. 

Matthew  Barnes, 
Richard  Bennet, 
Thos.  Wiburne, 
James  Pemert  [?]  at 
Rom.  M. 

Packers  of  flesh  and  fish. 

Serjeant  John  Barrell, 
Wm.  Dinsdale. 

and 
Isaac  Collimor 

( is  chosen  to  look  to  carriages  and  wheels  of 
<  the  Great  Artillei-y  and  to  be  paid  by  the 
(  Selectmen. 


These  offices  had  been  established  from  time  to  time  as  the 
exigencies  of  affairs  demanded  :  usually  there  was  some  vote 
of  the  court  sanctioning  or  recommending  them,  and  confer- 
ring or  limiting  their  powers. 

In  June,  1650,  a  petition  had  been  presented  from  Boston, 

that  they  might  become  a  corporation,  which  was   granted, 

provided  the  articles  and  terms,  privileges  and  immunities  asked, 

may  be  such  as  rationally  should  appear,  (respecting  the  mean 

13 


138  HISTORY    OE   BOSTON. 

condition  of  the  country)  fit  for  the  court  to  grant,  and  that 
they  shall  be  ready  for  examination  at  the  next  session  of 
the  court.  The  records  of  that  session  show  nothing  that  was 
done  upon  the  subject.  Suits  at  law,  however,  grew  more 
frequent,  and  many  crimes  were  committed  especially  in  the 
town  of  Boston,  by  reason  of  the  great  concourse  of  people  and 
the  increase  of  trade.*     On  this  account, 

'At  a  sessions  of  the  general  court  in  October,  1651,  an  act 
or  order  was  passed,  empowering  the  town  of  Boston  to  choose 
seven  commissioners,  to  be  presented  to  the  court  of  assist- 
ants ;  and,  being  authorized  by  them  and  sworn  before  them, 
or  before  the  governour,  they  or  any  five  of  them,  or  any 
three  together  with  one  magistrate,  might  hear  and  determine 
all  civil  actions  not  exceeding  ten  pounds  in  value,  and  all 
criminal  actions  where  the  penalty  or  fine  should  not  exceed 
forty  shillings,  the  parties  being  such  as  were  inhabitants  of 
Boston  neck  or  Noddle's  island,  or  such  as  did  not  belong  to 
the  jurisdiction  ;  and  the  county  court  was  not  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  any  such  actions.  This  law  was  made  for  one 
year  for  trial.' 

The  commissoners  were  authorised  to  appoint  their  own 
clerk,  and  ordered  to  keep  a  book  of  records  for  the  entry  of 
all  causes,  evidences  and  testimonies,  sentences  and  judg- 
ments as  the  law  provided  in  like  cases. 

At  the  second  election  under  this  order  in  October,  1652, 
Messrs.  John  Leverett,  Nathaniel  Duncan,  Anthony  Stoddard, 
William  and  Edward  Tyng,  T.  Savage  and  T.  Clark 
were  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing.  The  first  five  had  served 
the  year  before.  These  gentlemen,  together  with  those  in  the 
foregoing  list  of  town  officers,  probably  comprised  the  most 
active  and  influential  part  of  the  citizens  in  the  year  1653. 

The  duties  of  the  Selectmen  were  very  solemnly  detailed  in 
a  power  which  was  drawn  up  by  a  committee  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  in  this  form  : 

'  24,  1  mo.  1651. — Directions  for  the  selectmen  of  Boston 
commended  unto  them  from  the  town. 

Having  chosen  you  for  orderinge  of  towne  affaires,  this  year 
ensuing,  though  we  doubt  not  to  confide  in  your  wisdom,  fidel- 
ity, and  care,  in  seeking  and  promoting  the  good  and  welfaire 
of  the  towne,  yet  according  to  court  we  commend  unto  you 
the  instructions  following. 

First,  in  generall  we  require  your  special  care  that  the 
good  and  wholesome  orders  already  made,  which  you  have 
the  records  of,  be  observed  and  duly  executed,  and  what 
other  acts  and  orders,  shall  be   established  for  future  benefit 


Colony  records. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  139 

of  the  towne,  that  you  allsoe  cause  them  to  be  published  and 
put  in  execution,  and  further  according  to  power  given,  and 
several  lawes  of  the  country  to  be  found  in  the  book  of  print- 
ed lawes,  under  these  titles,  Townships,  Ecclesiastick,  Free- 
men, High-ways,  small  Causes,  Indians,  Corn-fields,  Masters 
and  Servants,  Pipe  Staves,  Swyne,  Weights,  Measures,  and 
any  other  order  in  force  which  concerne  your  place  to  regu- 
late yourselves  and  carry  on  3rour  worke,  and  where  you  finde 
defect  of  power  to  bring  your  desires  to  a  good  issue  for  well 
ordering  the  town,  you  may  draw  some  good  orders  in  forme 
to  be  approved  by  the  towne,  and  so  to  be  presented  to  the 
Generall  Court,  and  our  Deputyes  for  consideration. 

Secondly,  there  are  some  particulars  necessary  to  be  con- 
sidered of  and  ordered  by  you — as  first  about  accepting  and 
entertaining  new  inhabitants  into  the  towne  and  herein, 

First,  it  is  required  that  you  make  some  effectu all  orders, 
with  such  penaltjr  as  you  have  powers  to  impose,  that  none 
transplant  themselves  from  other  parts  of  the  country  to  in- 
habit here  without  giving  you  notice  thereof. 

Secondly,  to  inquire  of  such  as  so  present  themselves  for  in- 
habitants, what  calling  or  employment  they  will  undertake, 
and  if  they  will  live  under  other  men's  roofs  as  inmates,  then 
to  deal  with  them,  according  to  the  order  of  such  persons, 
comprehended  under  the  title  of  Towneshipes. 

Thirdly,  if  such  persons  were  poor  and  impotent,  such  as 
had  reliefe  in  the  district  whence  they  came,  then  to  deal  with 
them  according  to  the  ordering  of  settling  poore  people  under 
that  title  of  poor.' 

These  instructions  were  continued  in  force  by  an  annual 
vote  of  the  people  for  many  years. 

Before  the  year  1637  the  townsmen  served  wdthout  com- 
pensation, (as  the  fashion  now  is)  and  defrayed  incidental  ex- 
penses. In  that  year  it  was  agreed  that  their  charges  at  their 
meetings  be  borne  by  the  town  in  general.  And  in  1641  we 
find  a  charge  of  two  pounds  eighteen  shillings  for  a  select- 
men's dinner.  The  number  of  the  Selectmen  (who  used  to  be 
chosen  twice  a  year,)  varied  in  different  years,  from  eleven  to 
seven,  till  1647,  after  which  seven  continued  for  a  long  time  to 
be  the  number. 

The  year  1 653  is  rendered  memorable  by  the  first  great  fire.* 
Neither  the  part  of  the  townnorof  the  year  in  which  it  occur- 
red, is  precisely  ascertained  by  us.  We  infer  that  it  was  near 
Cornhill,  from  some  expressions  in  Capt.  Keayne's  will,  where 
he  recommends  having  a  conduit,  as  '  a  good  help  in  danger  of 


*  '  A  most  terrible  fire  happened  iu  Charlestown,  in  1650,  in  the  depth  of  winter,  which 
by  a  violent  wind  was  blown  from  one  house  to  another  to  the  consuming  of  the  fairest 
houses  in  the  town.'    W.  W.  P.    iii.    9. 


140  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

fire,  the  want  of  which  we  have  found  by  sad  and  costly  ex- 
perience, not  only  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  where  possibly 
they  have  better  supply  of  water,  but  in  the  heart  of  the  town 
about  the  market  place — and  many  fair  buildings  there  be 
round  about  it.'  We  also  date  it  before  the  14th  of  March, 
for  on  that  day  we  find  a  body  of  regulations  adopted  for  the 
better  preservation  of  the  town  from  fire.  Before  this  a  man 
was  liable  to  10s.  fine,  if  he  suffered  his  chimney  to  become 
so  foul  as  to  take  fire  and  blaze  out  at  the  top.  Now  every 
house  was  to  be  provided  with  a  ladder  to  reach  to  the  ridge 
thereof,  and  a  pole  about  12  feet  long  with  a  good  large 
swabb  at  the  end  of  it,  to  reach  to  the  roof  of  the  house.  Six 
good  and  long  ladders  were  to  be  furnished  by  the  selectmen 
and  kept  at  the  meeting  houses,  and  four  strong  iron  crooks 
with  chains  and  ropes  fitted  to  them,  and  this  crook  fastened 
on  a  good  strong  pole.  No  person  was  to  recover  damage  for 
his  house,  if  pulled  down  to  stop  the  progress  of  fire  ;  but  no 
house  should  be  so  pulled  down  without  the  consent  of  the 
major  part  of  the  magistrates,  or  commissioners  and  selectmen 
present.  No  fire  was  to  be  allowed  on  board  any  vessel  or 
near  any  warehouse  after  nine  o'clock.  Bell  men  are  ap- 
pointed to  go  about  during  the  night.  Fire  buckets  are  men- 
tioned soon  after,  and  the  selectmen  are  authorized  to  agree 
with  Joseph  Jenks  for  an  engine  to  carry  water  in  case  of  fire. 
Chimney  sweepers  were  also  appointed  'with  liberty  to  cry 
about  the  streets,  that  they  may  be  known:'  Robert  Wyatt 
and  William  Lane  had  the  honour  to  receive  the  first  appoint- 
ments. In  these  ordinances  we  trace  the  rudiments  of  our 
present  system  for  the  management  of  fires. 

The  most  remarkable  occurrence  in  the  colony  in  the  year 
1655  was  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  Mrs.  Ann  Hibbins  of 
Boston  for  witchcraft.  Her  husband,  who  died  July  23,  1654, 
was  an  agent  for  the  colonj"  in  England,  several  years  one  of 
the  assistants,  and. a  merchant  of  note  in  the  town  ;  but  losses 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  had  reduced  his  estate,  and  in- 
creased the  natural  crabbedness  of  his  wife's  temper,  wThich 
made  her  turbulent  and  quarrelsome,  and  brought  her  under 
church  censures,  and  at  length  rendered  her  so  odious  to  her 
neighbours  as  to  cause  some  of  them  to  acuse  her  of  witch- 
craft. The  jury  brought  her  in  guilty,  but  the  magistrates 
refused  to  accept  the  verdict;  so  the  cause  came  to  the  gene- 
ral court,  where  the  popular  clamour  prevailed  against  her, 
and  the  miserable  old  lady  was  condemned  and  executed  in 
June  1656.  Search  was  made  upon  her  body  for  tetts,  and 
in  her  chests  and  boxes  for  puppets  or  images,  but  there  is  no 
record  of  any  thing  of  that  sort  being  found.  Mr.  Beach,  a 
minister  in  Jamaica,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  says, 
'  You  may  remember  what  I   have  sometimes  told  you  your 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  14  t 

famous  Mr.  Norton  once  said  at  his  own  table,  before  Mr.  Wil- 
son the  pastor,  elder  Penn  and  myself  and  wife,  and  others, 
who  had  the  honour  to  be  his  guests: — That  one  of  your 
magistrates'  wives,  as  I  remember,  was  hanged  for  a  witch 
only  for  having  more  wit  than  her  neighbours.  It  was  his 
very  expression  ;  she  having,  as  he  explained  it,  unhappily 
guessed  that  two  of  her  persecutors,  whom  she  saw  talking  in 
the  street,  were  talking  of  her,which  proving  true,  cost  her  her 
life,  notwithstanding  all  he  could  do  to  the  contrary,  as  he 
himself  told  us.' 

This  was  the  third  instance  of  execution  for  witchcraft  in 
New  England.  The  first  occurred  in  Connecticut:  the  second 
was  the  case  of  Margaret  Jones  of  Charlestown,  who  was  exe- 
cuted at  Boston  in  June  1648,  She  was  charged  with  posses- 
sing a  malignant  touch,  which  immediately  infected  with  some 
violent  ail,  whoever  came  in  contact  with  her.  Had  she  lived 
in  our  day,  she  would  only  have  been  sent  to  Rainsford's 
island. 

It  is  not  strange  that  her  husband  should  have  been  a  sus- 
picious character.  After  witnessing  her  tragical  end,  he  very 
naturally  desired  to  leave  the  scene  of  distress,  and  sought 
passage  in  a  vessel  bound  to  Barbadoes,  which  was  for  some 
cause  denied  him.  The  vessel  lay  in  the  river  between  Bos- 
ton and  Charlestown,  and  '  on  a  sudden  she  was  seen  to  roll 
from  side  to  side  as  if  she  would  turn  over.'  She  was  of  300 
tons,  in  light  ballast,  and  had  eighty  horses  on  board.  Poor 
Mr.  Jones  was  accused  as  the  probable  cause  of  this  accident, 
and  warrant  issued  for  his  apprehension.  The  constable,  as 
he  crossed  the  ferry,  had  the  prudence  to  present  the  war- 
rant in  view  of  the  ship  ;  and  the  same  instant  she  began  to 
stop  her  motion  and  to  swim  upright,  and  as  soon  as  Jones  was 
safe  lodged  in  prison,  she  never  moved  in  that  kind  any 
more  :  so  saj^s  '  history.' 

We  have  the  authority  of  Hutchinson  to  say,  that  about 
this  time  the  scrupulosity  of  the  good  people  of  tne  colony 
was  at  its  height.  Soon  after  Mr.  Winthrop's  death,  Mr.  En- 
dicott  the  most  rigid  of  any  of  the  magistrates,  being  gover- 
nour,  he  joined  with  the  other  assistants  in  an  association 
against  the  wearing  of  long  hair,  as  a  thing  uncivil  and  un- 
manly, fit  only  for  Russians  and  barbarous  Indians.  They 
had  a  law  too  against  long  boots,  on  account  of  the  waste  of 
leather,  and  a  law  pgainst  dancing  on  ordinary  occasions. 
Some  good  men  finding  that  laws  were  rather  ineffectual  used 
the  severer  lash  of  ridicule.  The  Simple  Cobler  ofrfggawam 
thus  lectures  our  extravagant  grandsires  and  grandames  : 

'  Methinks  it  should  break  the  hearts  of  English  men  to 
see  so  many  goodly  English  women  imprisoned  in  French  ca- 
ges, peering  out  of  their  hood-holes  for  some  men  of  mercy  to 


142  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

help  them  with  a  little  wit,  and  nobody  relieves  them.  We 
have  about  five  or  six  of  them  in  our  colony  :  if  I  see  any  of 
them  accidentally,  I  cannot  cleanse  my  phansie  of  them  for  a 
month  after. 

'  It  is  a  more  common  than  convenient  saying  that  nine 
taylors  make  a  man  :  it  were  well  if  nineteen  could  make  a 
woman  to  her  mind  :  if  taylors  were  men  indeed,  well  fur- 
nished but  with  meer  moral  principles,  they  would  disdain  to 
be  led  about  like  apes,  by  such  mymick  marmosets.  It  is  a 
most  unworthy  thing,  for  men  that  have  bones  in  them,  to 
spend  their  lives  in  making  fiddle-cases  for  futulous  womens 
phansies  ;  which  are  the  very  pettitoes  of  infirmity,  the  giblets 
of  perquisquilian  toyes.  I  am  so  charitable  to  think,  that 
most  of  that  mystery  would  work  the  cheerfuller  while  they 
live,  if  they  might  be  well  discharged  of  the  tyring  slavery 
of  mis-tyring  women  :  it  is  no  little  labour  to  be  continually 
putting  up  English  women  into  out-landish  caskes  ;  who  if 
they  be  not  shifted  anew,  once  in  a  few  months,  growe  too 
sowre  for  their  husbands. 

He  that  makes  coats  for  the  moon 
Had  need  take  measure  every  noon ; 

and  he  that  makes  for  women  as  often,  to  keep  them  from 
lunacy. 

'  It  is  known  more  than  enough,  that  I  am  neither  nigard,nor 
cinick,  to  the  due  bravery  of  the  true  gentry  :  if  any  man 
mislikes  a  bullymong  drossock  more  than  I,  let  him  take  her 
for  his  labour  :  I  honour  the  woman  that  can  honour  herself 
with  her  attire  :  a  good  text  always  deserves  a  fair  margent  ; 
I  am  not  much  offended,  if  I  see  a  trimme  far  trimmer  than 
she  that  wears  it  :  in  a  word,  whatever  Christianity  or  civili- 
ty will  allow,  I  can  afford  with  London  measure  :  but  when  I 
hear  a  nugiperous  gentledame  inquire  what  dress  the  queen  is 
in  this  week  :  what  the  nudiustertian  fashion  of  the  court  ; 
with  egge  to  be  in  it  in  all  haste,  whatever  it  be  ;  I  look  at 
her  as  the  very  gizzard  of  a  trifle,  the  product  of  a  quarter  of 
a  cypher,  the  epitome  of  nothing,  fitter  to  be  kickt,  if  she  were 
of  a  kickable  substance,  than  either  honoured  or  humoured.' 

He  is  very  serious  on  the  subject  of  dressing  the  head. 
'  Knew  I  how  to  bring  it  in,  I  would  speak  a  word  to  long  hair 
whereof  I  will  say  no  more  but  this:  if  those  who  are  termed 
rattle-heads  and  Impuritans  would  take  up  a  resolution  to  be- 
gin in  moderation  of  hair,  to  the  just  reproach  of  those  that 
are  called  Puritans  and  round-heads,  I  would  honour  their  man- 
liness as  much  as  the  others'  godliness,  so  long  as  I  knew 
what  man  or  honour  meant.  If  neither  can  find  a  barber's 
shop,  let  them  tusn  in  to  Psalms,  Jeremiah  and  Corinthians, 
where  they  may  obtain  certain  directions.     If  it  be   thought 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  14S 

no  wisdom  in  men  to  distinguish  themselves  in  the  field  by  scis- 
sors, let  them  remember,  he  is  ill  kept  that  is  kept  by 
his  own  sin  :  a  short  promise  is  a  far  safer  guard  than  a 
long  lock.  Though  it  be  not  the  mark  of  the  beast,  it  may  be 
the  mark  of  a  beast  prepared  to  slaughter  :  I  am  sure,  men 
used  not  to  wear  such  manes :  1  am  also  sure,  soldiers  used  to 
wear  other  marklets  or  notadoes  in  time  of  battle.' 

There  must  have  been  something  more  agreeable  than  a 
universal  gloom  in  the  society,  where  a  man  could  be  found, 
and  he  a  minister  and  solitary  widower,  whose  thoughts  could 
run  in  such  a  train.  We  have  been  too  long  taught  to  believe 
that  in  the  first  generation,  every  thing  bore  marks  of  a  pover- 
ty, which  though  voluntary  was  real  :  that  austerity  of  man- 
ners did  well  enough  agree  with  the  horrours  of  a  wilderness, 
and  that  content  extended  only  to  the  supply  of  the  first  wants, 
and  to  a  cabin,  which  the  waste  of  fuel  rendered  inhabitable. 
Those  who  heard  the  late  Dr.  Bentley's  Antiquarian  dis- 
course will  recollect  how  happily  he  combated  that  opinion, 
by  introducing  his  hearers  into  the  mansions  of  some  of  the 
early  settlers,  and  displaying  the  articles  found  in  the  invento- 
ries of  their  estates.  His  researches  were  made  in  Essex  :  our 
own  Probate  records  exhibit  similar  facts.  We  find  in  the  prin- 
cipal houses  a  great  hall  ornamented  with  pictures  and  a  great 
lantern,  and  a  velvet  cushion  in  the  window  seat,  which  looks 
into  the  garden.  On  either  side  is  a  great  parlour,  a  little  par- 
lour, or  study.  These  are  furnished  with  great  looking  glass- 
es, turkey  carpets,  window  curtains  and  valance,  pictures  and 
a  map,  a  brass  clock,  red  leather-back  chairs  and  a  great 
pair  of  brass  andirons.  The  chambers  are  well  supplied  with 
feather  beds,  warming  pans,  and  every  other  article  that 
would  now  be  thought  necessary  for  comfort  or  display. 
The  pantry  is  well  filled  with  substantial  fare  and  dainties, 
prunes,  marmalade  and  madeira  wine.  Silver  tankards,  wine 
cups,  and  other  articles  of  plate,  are  not  uncommon  :  the 
kitchen  is  completely  stocked  with  pewter,  copper,  and  iron 
utensils.  Very  many  families  employed  servants,  and  in  one 
we  see  a  Scotch  boy  valued  among  the  property  and  invoiced 
at  £14.  The  wardrobe  of  Mrs.  Hudson  exhibited  as  many 
articles  of  finery  as  usually  deck  a  modern  toilet. 

These  legal  records  furnish  the  best  of  testimony  concern- 
ing the  extent  of  individual  wealth,  and  the  manners  of  the 
times.  Such  things  existed  in  other  places  as  much  perhaps 
as  in  Boston,  but  a  knowledge  of  them  is  not  on  that  account 
less  necessary  to  those,  who  would  be  familiar  with  the  distin- 
guishing traits  of  our  ancestors. 

The  business  of  the  most  importance  in  the  town  at  this 
period  was  the  erection  of  the  first  Town  House.  A  proposal 
had  been  made  in  1649,  '  that  those  that  shall  undertake  to 


144  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 

build  a  house  for  the  courts  to  be  kept  in,  shall  have  the  in- 
come of  any  rents  that  might  arise,  forever.'  In  Capt.  Keayne's 
will  the  subject  was  renewed  and  urged  with  much  earn- 
estness :  he  calculated  the  expenses  and  bequeathed  a  sum 
which  he  thought  would  nearly  defray  the  whole.  In  1657 
a  model  was  presented  ;  in  1659  the  town  house  is  mentioned, 
and  at  the  meeting  that  year,  which  we  suppose  to  have  been 
held  in  that  house,  a  rule  of  proceeding  was  adopted  that 
'  there  shall  be  a  moderator  chosen  annually  to  regulate  pub- 
lick  meetings  and  for  this  present  year  Wm.  Davis  [apothe- 
cary] is  chosen.'  Thomas  Joy  appears  to  have  been  the  car- 
penter that  built  the  town  house,  and  a  final  settlement  was 
made  with  him  in  January  1661,  when  he  received  £680 
'  whereby  all  contracts  with  him  were  performed.'  This  was 
double  the  amount  of  Capt.  Keayne's  calculation.  Whether 
any  individuals  bore  part  of  the  expense,  does  not  appear  : 
but  in  1664  the  town  hired  some  part  of  the  premises  for  a 
watch-house. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

"A  lowering  storm,  from  envy  brewing-, 
Shall  at  a  distance  menace  ruin  ; 
While  slander,  malice  and  detraction 
A  host  of  fiends  shall  bring  in  action." 

The  Massachusetts  colony  originated  in  the  commencement 
of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  I.  The  true  intent  of  their  patent 
or  charter  was,  that  the  government  of  the  colony  should  be 
under  a  corporation  in  England.  The  great  change  which  the 
company  made,  by  transferring  the  government  into  New  Eng- 
land, produced  a  clamour  against  them,  and  a  quo  warranto 
was  issued  and  prosecuted,  and  judgment  obtained  against 
the  patentees  in  1638.  But  the  troubles  which  were  increas- 
ing in  the  kingdom,  and  other  circumstances,  prevented  the 
execution,  and  no  further  demand  was  made  during  the 
life  of  the  king.  After  various  vain  expedients  to  retain  his 
authority,  Charles  was  brought  to  a  trial,  condemned  and  be- 
headed on  the  30th  of  January  1 649.  The  parliament  of  Scot- 
land took  no  part  in  this  transaction,  and  formally  protested 
against  it.  On  his  death  they  proclaimed  his  son  Charles  II. 
their  sovereign.  Against  him  Oliver  Cromwell  maintained  the 
field,  and  destroyed  the  royal  army  at  Worcester  in  Septem- 
ber 1651.  England  was  now  a  sort  ofrepublick,  and  continu- 
ed so  till  April  1653,  when  Cromwell  assumed  the  power  and 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  145 

became  lord  protector  of  the  three  kingdoms.  He  maintained 
his  place  till  1658,  when  he  fell  into  disease  and  died,  leaving 
the  protectorate  to  his  son  Richard,  who  being  utterly  unfit 
for  that  hazardous  situation  resigned  his  office  in  April  1659. 
General  Monk,  taking  advantage  of  the  crisis,  determined  to 
make  an  effort  to  restore  the  exiled  monarch,  which  was  suc- 
cessful, and  Charles  II.  was  proclaimed  in  London,  May  29, 
1660. 

The  news  of  this  fact  arrived  in  July,  but  the  government 
did  not  think  proper  to  proclaim  the  king  here  at  that  time. 
In  November,  official  information  was  received  from  Mr.  Lev- 
erett,  the  colony's  agent,  that  petitions  and  complaints  were 
preferred  against  the  colony  to  the  king  and  to  the  parliament. 
Thereupon  the  governour  and  assistants  met  and  prepared  a 
very  loyal  address,  which  was  very  graciously  received  and 
answered  in  February,  1661.  There  was,  notwithstanding,  no 
small  degree  of  fear,  lest  the  revolution  in  England  should  pro- 
duce as  great  a  change  in  the  form  of  their  government,  both  in 
church  and  state.  A  sort  of  prudential  committee  was  ap- 
pointed, to  consider  what  measures  the  state  of  things  requir- 
ed to  be  taken,  which  produced  a  declaration  of  rights  and 
duties,  which  was  adopted  by  the  court.*  The  king  was 
proclaimed  and  acknowledged  in  August,  but  this  submission 
did  not  cause  all  their  difficulties  to  subside.  Further  com- 
plaints were  made,  and  an  order  was  received  from  the  king, 
that  some  persons  should  be  sent  over  to  make  answer.  Mr. 
Bradstreet,  one  of  the  assistants,  and  Mr.  John  Norton,  teach- 
er of  the  first  church,  were  sent,  and  were  well  received. 
They  made  but  a  short  stay,and  returned  with  a  letter  from  the 
king.  It  offered  to  confirm  and  renew  the  charter  and  other 
privileges,  which  all  thought  very  favourable  ;  but  then  it 
required  among  other  things,  that  all,  who  desired  it,  should 
have  liberty  to  use  the  book  of  common  prayer,  and  perform 
their  devotions  according  to  the  service  established  in.  Eng- 
land ;  and  that  all  freeholders  of  competent  estates,  though  of 
different  persuasions  concerning  church  government,  should  be 
electors,  and  be  eligible  to  all  offices  for  which  their  wisdom, 
virtue  and  integrity  qualified  them.  The  old  lawrof  1631  had 
been  enforced  by  authority  in  1660,  making  church  members 
the  only  freemen  ;  and  these  requirements  entered  the  sanctum 
sanctorum  of  our  fathers'  .prejudices,  and  were  admitted  with 
reluctance.  The  agents  met  with  a  very  unkind  reception  on 
their  return.  Mr.Norton  died  soon  after  (April  5,  1663)  of  an 
apoplectick  fit :  his  friends  attributed  his  death  to  the  treatment 


*  See  Hutcb.  vol.  1.  app.  No.  l" 

19 


146  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

he  experienced  :     the   Quakers  pronounced  it  a  judgment  of 
God  upon  him,  for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  their  persecution.* 

The  years  1664  and  1665  afforded  the  people  greater  occa- 
sion for  fears,  than  they  had  met  with,  at  any  time  before. 
Their  compliance  with  the  requisitions  of  the  king's  letter  were 
so  slow,  that  his  Majesty  determined  to  send  over  several  gen- 
tlemen of  distinction,  with  a  commission  to  hear  and  determine 
all  matters  of  complaint,  and  to  settle  the  peace  and  security 
of  the  country,  according  to  their  discretion.  With  such  pow- 
ers, four  commissioners  arrived  in  July,  1664.  They  were  Col. 
Richard  Nichols,  Geo.  Cartwright,  esq.  Sir  Robt.  Carr,  and 
Sam'l.  Maverick,  esq :  the  latter  an  implacable  enemy  to  the 
colony,  ever  after  an  unsuccessful  petition  was  preferred  by 
him  and  others  for  certain  privileges  in  1646.  They  had  va- 
rious charges  to  advance  and  many  demands  to  make  of  the 
government  here :  numerous  interviews  took  place,  and  differ- 
ences in  opinions  about  mutual  rights  were  unavoidable. 
Nothing  definitive  was  effected  by  their  labour ;  the  commis- 
sioners had  to  deal  with  men,  who  were  their  equals  in  knowl- 
edge, and  their  superiors  in  every  other  qualification.  Some 
light  is  thrown  upon  the  characters  of  both  by  the  following 
story. 

'  The  commissioners  with  other  gentlemen  meeting  some- 
times at  a  publick  house  in  Boston,  called  the  Ship  tavern  (it 
was  at  the  corner  of  Clark  and  Ann  streets,  then  kept  by 
John  Vyal,  vintner,)  one  of  the  constables,  named  Arthur 
Mason,  expected  to  find  them  there  upon  a  Saturday  evening, 
which  would  have  been  a  breach  of  law  ;  but  before  he 
came,  they  had  adjourned  to  Mr.  Kellond's,  a  merchant,  who 
lived  opposite  to  the  tavern.  Another  constable,  who  had 
been  at  the  tavern  before,  had  been  beaten  by  them.  Mason, 
who  had  more  courage  and  zeal,  went  into  the  company  with 
his  staff  and  told  them  he  was  glad  to  see  them  there,  for  if 
he  had  found  them  on  the  other  side  the  street  he  would  have 
carried  them  all  away ;  and  added  that  he  wondered  they 
should  be  so  uncivil  as  to  beat  a  constable  and  abuse  authori- 
ty. Sir  Robert  Carr  said,  it  was  he  that  beat  him,  and  that  he 
would  do  it  again.  Mason  replied,  that  he  thought  his  Majes- 
ty's commissioners  would  not  have  beaten  his  Majesty's  offi- 
cers, and  that  it  was  well  for  them  that  he  was  not  the  con- 
stable who  found  them  there,  for  he  would  have  carried  them 
before  authority.  Sir  Robert  asked,  if  he  dare  meddle  with 
the  king's  commissioners  ?  Yes,  says  Mason,  and  if  the  king 
himself  had  been  there,  I  would  have  carried  him  away.  Upon 
which,  Maverick   cried   out,  Treason  !  Mason,    thou   shalt   he 


*  Mr.  Norton  left  10  pounds  by  will  to  the  poor  of  Boston. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  147 

hanged  within  a  tivelvemonth  !     Sir  Robert  Carr  spake  to   Sir 
Thomas  Temple  and  some    others   of  the  company,  to   take 
notice  of  what  passed ;  and   the  next   day  Maverick   sent  a 
note  to  Mr.  Bellingham,  the  governour,   charging  Mason  with 
high  treason  for  the  words   spoken,  and  requiring   the  gover- 
nour to  secure  him.     The  governour  appointed  a  time  for  Ma- 
verick to  come  to  his  house,  and  to  oblige  himself  to  prosecute 
the  constable  at  the  next  court  of  assistants ;    but  Maverick, 
instead  of  appearing,  thought  proper  only  to  send  another  note, 
promising   to   appear  against  the   constable,  and  charge  him 
home,  and  therefore  required  his  person  should   be   secured. 
The  governour  thought  it  advisable  to  cause  Mason  to  recog- 
nize, as  principal,  in  five   hundred  pounds,  with  two  sufficient 
sureties  in   two   hundred  and  fifty   each,  for  his  appearance  ; 
but  the  day  before  the  court,  Maverick  sent   another  note  to 
the  governour,  desiring  to  withdraw  his  charge,  being  "  satis- 
fied that  although  the  words  were  rash  and  inconsiderate,  yet 
there  was  no  premeditated  design  in  Mason  to  offer  any   inju- 
ry to  the  king  or  his  government."     The  governour  returned 
for  answer,  "  the  affair  was  of  too  high  a  nature  for  him  to 
interpose  in,  Mason  being  bound  over  to  answer."     Upon  his 
appearance  a  bill  was  laid  before  the  grand  jury,  wherein   he 
was  charged  with  maliciously  and  treasonably   uttering    the 
treasonable  words   mentioned.     According   to  liberty   taken 
by  grand  juries  at  that  day,  they  only  found  "  that  the  words 
charged  were  spoken  ;",  and  Mason  being  brought  upon  trial, 
and  the  words  fully   proved,  the  court   of  assistants  suspen- 
ded judgment,    and   referred    the   cause   to  the  next  general 
court,  where  it  was   resolved,   that   although  the    words  were 
rash,   insolent,    and  highly  offensive,  yet,  as   his  accusers  and 
witnesses  all  cleared  him  from  any  overt  act,  or  evil  intended 
against  the  king,  the  court  did  not  see  cause  to  adjudge  him  a 
capital  offender,   but  sentenced  him  to  be  admonished  in  sol- 
emn manner  by  the  governour.' 

Sir  Robert  Carr  was  in  his  turn  summoned  by  Mr.  Leverett 
to  appear  at  his  house,  with  his  man  James  Deane,  and  answer 
to  a  complaint  exhibited  against  them  for  '  royatous  and  abu- 
sive carriage  to  one  of  his  Majesty's  officers,  Richard  Bennet, 
one  of  the  constables  of  the  town,  that  the  honour  and  author- 
ity of  H.  M.  or  his  officers,  may  be  preserved,  with  the  great- 
est respect  to  yourself  the  case  will  admit  of.'  We  find  no 
record  of  the  result. 

The  commissioners  drew  up  a  report,  in  which  they  speak  of 
Boston  as  '  the  chief  town  in  the  colony,  seated  upon  a  penin- 
sula, in  the  bottom  of  a  bay,  which  is  a  good  harbour  and  full 
of  fish.  It  was  fortified  this  year,  1665,  with  two  block  houses 
- — Their  houses  are  generally  wooden,  their  streets  crooked 
with   little   decency  and   no  uniformity  ;  and  there,  neither 


148  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

months,  days,  seasons  of  the  year,  churches  nor  inns  are 
known  by  their  English  names. — One  of  the  king's  loyal  sub- 
jects was  derided  for  being  so  civil  as  to  accompany  a  com- 
missioner from  the  town  where  he  lived  to  Boston,  and  others 
in  Boston  derided  those  of  Rhode  Island,  for  having  yielded 
so  much  to  the  commissioners. 

'  At  our  first  coming  over,  many  untruths  were  raised  and 
sent  into  the  colonies — Major  Hawthorne  made  a  seditious 
speech  at  the  head  of  his  company,  and  the  late  governour* 
another  at  their  meeting  house  in  Boston  ;  but  neither  of  them 
were  so  much  as  questioned  for  it  by  any  of  the  magistrates.' 
The  town  had  for  several  years  given  instructions  to  their 
deputies  in  the  general  court.  The  first  on  record  are  those 
for  the  year  1665,  and  are  not  without  interest,  as  exhibiting 
the  first  publick  act  of  Boston  in  support  of  'just  privileges.' 
May  4.  1665.  Instructions  for  the  deputies,  it  is  agreed  to 
present  these  ensuing  : 

First,  that  there  may  be  an  amicable  compliance  with  his 
Majesty's  hon.  commissioners  according  as  duty  to  God  and 
allegiance  to  H.  M.  obligeth,  without  any  receding  from  our 
just  privileges  according  to  the  patent. 

2dly.  Inasmuch  as  the  number  of  freemen  in  this  town  of 
B.  (consisting  of  tow  distinct  churches,)  is  very  large,  that 
either  the  number  of  deputies  their  representatives  may  be 
enlarged,  according  to  proportion  of  freemen,  or  that  there  may 
be  [?]  show  deputies. 

3dly.  That  whereas  there  be  divers  offices,  as  sealers  of 
leather,  &c.  who  after  election  by  law  o^-  to  be  sworn  to 
the  execution  thereof,  who  yet  refuse  the  same,  that  there  may 
be  some  penalty  inflicted  upon  the  refuser  of  the  same,  that  so 
the  work  may  not  be  frustrated. 

4thly-  That  whereas  the  standard  for  weights  in  towns 
exceeds  not  four  pounds,  that  it  may  be  enlarged  to  56lb. 
weight,  whereby  fraud  may  be  prevented  in  greater  drafts. 

5thly.  That  whereas  for  the  future  there  may  be  more  use 
of  bricks  than  formerly,  for  prevention  of  damage  ;  that  the 
law  relating  to  tiles  may  be  enlarged  to  bricks,  as  to  clay  they 
are  made  of,  and  that  there  may  be  a  size  appointed  for  their 
dimension,  and  that  their  moulds  may  be  shod,  &c.' 

The  representations  of  the  commissioners  produced  another 
letter  from  the  king,  dated  April  10,  1666,  and  requiring  that 
five  persons,  of  whom  Gov.  Bellingham  and  Major  Harthorne 


*  Gov.  Endicot  died  March  23,  1665.  He  had  made  Boston  his  place  of  residence  for 
some  time.  His  will  is  dated  here  May  2,  1659,  and  speaks  of  the  house  he  lived  in,  which 
was  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Gardiner  Greene,  esq.  He  left  four  pounds  to  the  poor  of 
Boston. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  149 


were  to  be  two,  should  be  sent  over  to  answer  for  the  conduct 
of  the  colony.  The  court  excused  themselves  with  much 
sagacity  from  a  compliance  with  this  demand.  An  increase 
of  troubles  at  home  directed  the  king  and  council's  attention 
from  the  colonies,  and  the  people  here  had  a  respite  on  these 
matters  till  1675. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

We  see  the  ground  whereon  these  woes  do  lie, 
But  the  true  ground  of  all  these  piteous  woes 
We  cannot  without  circumstance  descry. 

Romeo  and  Juliets 

Some  few  of  the  first  settlers  in  New  England  were  persons 
inclined  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Baptists,  and  the  rulers  of  the 
colony  had  used  every  effort  to  check  the  spread  of  their  opin- 
ions. Some  they  fined :  some  they  whipped  :  some  they  im- 
prisoned :  some  they  banished  :  and  some  were  subjec- 
ted year  after  year  to  ecclesiastical  discipline,  and  delivered 
up  to  Satan  for  not  hearing  the  church. 

But  now,  the  king's  commissioners,  having  declared  that 
they  would  have  liberty  given  to  all  sorts  and  sects  of  men, 
the  baptists  in  and  near  Boston  took  advantage  of  their  pres- 
ence and  formed  a  society,  which  was  the  origin  of  the  First 
Baptist  church.*  The  first  record  on  their  books  gives  the 
following  account  of  this  transaction  : 

lThe  28th  of  the  3d  Month,  in  1665,  in  Charlestown, 
Massachusetts,  the  Church  of  Christ,  commonly(though  falsely) 
called  Anabaptists,  were  gathered  together  and  entered  into 
fellowship  and  communion  with  each  other;  engaging  to  walk 
together  in  all  the  appointments  of  their  Lord  and  Master,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  far  as  he  should  be  pleased  to  make 
known  his  mind  and  will  unto  them  by  his  word  and  spirit  ; 
and  then,  were  baptized  Thomas  Gould,  Thomas  Osborne, 
Edward  Drinker,  John  George — and  joined  with  Richard 
Goodall,  William  Turner,  Robert  Lambert,  Mary  Goodall, 
Mary  Newell,  who  had  walked  in  that  order  in  Old-England 
—and  to  whom  God  hath  joined  since,  Isaac  Hull,  John  Far- 
num,  Jacob  Barney,  John  Russell,  jun.  John  Johnson,  George 
Farlow,  Benjamin  Sweetser,  Mrs.  Sweetser,  all  before  Ellis 
Callender  who  was  received  Nov.  9, 1669.' 


*  This  was  the  first  church  of  the  denomination  in  Massachusetts  proper :  there  had  heen 
«ne  in  Rehobotb,  which  was  then  in  Plymouth  colony,  since  1663. 


150  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

This  act  of  the  baptists   was  in  defiance  of  a  standing   law 
of  the  colony,  as  the   formation  of  the  first   church  had  been 
contrary  to  a  law  of  the  kingdom.    Shortly  after  the  depar- 
ture of  the  commissioners,  Aug.  20,  a  warrant  was   issued  to 
the   constable  of  Charlestown  to   labour  to   discover    where 
these  people  were  assembled,  and  to  require  them  to    attend 
the    established  worship  ;  upon  refusal  to  do  this,  they  were 
brought  before  the   court  of  assistants    in  September,    when 
they  presented   a  confession  of  faith,  setting  forth  their  distin- 
guishing  sentiments.*     The  court    were  not  satisfied,  but  de- 
clared Mr.  Gould  and  his  company  to  be  no  orderly  church 
assembly,  and  sentenced  them  to  be  disfranchised,  and  on  con- 
viction of  any  further  meetings,  to  be  committed  to  prison, 
In  April  of  the  next  year  they  were  again  indicted  for  non-at- 
tendance on  publick   worship,  and  plead  their  own   constant 
meetings  in  defence.     This  was   considered  an  aggravation, 
and  Gould,  Osborne  and  George  were  fined  £4  each,  and  or- 
dered to  give  bonds  for  their  appearance   at  the  next  court. 
This  they  refused,  and    were  therefore  committed  to  prison. 
They  remained  in  confinement,  for  a  long  time,  making  occa- 
sionally appeals  for  release,  but   in   vain.     In  March,  1668, 
Gould  appealed  for  himself,  but  the  court  of  assistants  again 
affirmed  the  judgment  against  him,  and   he  was  recommitted. 
But  the  same  court  appointed  him  and  his  associates  a  day  to 
hold  a   publick   dispute  in  defence    of  their   principles,  '  for 
their  orderly  conviction  by  the  labours  of  some  of  the  rever- 
end elders.'     When  the  day  arrived,  April    14th,  the  baptists 
appeared   with  some  of  their  friends  from  Newport,  and    the 
six  selected  divines  were  attended  by  the  governour  and  oth- 
er magistrates  and  ministers.     A  memorandum  of  the  proceed- 
ings is  preserved  in  the  Historical  Library,  but  as  it  remains 
undeciphered,   we  can  only  say  that  'the  conference   seems 
from   the  quick   alternation  of  the  dialogue,  as  the  speakers' 
names  indicate,  to  have  been  more  animated  than  might  have 
been  expected,  but  the  eloquence  and  argument  of  each  is  lost 
in  an  impartial  oblivion.'     The  result  was  more  palpable.     In 
the  following  May,  Gould,  Turner  and  Farnum  were  ordered 
to  remove  from  the  jurisdiction  before  the  20th  of  July  ;  and 
if  seen  after  that  time,  they  were  to  be  thrown  into  prison,  and 
there  to  remain  without  bail  or   mainprise.     Mr.  Gould    was 
thereupon  set  at   liberty,  that  he  might  prepare  to  go  into  ban- 
ishment :  in  the  mean  while,  the  court  ordered  that  no  meet- 
ing   should    be  held  or  ordinances  administered.     The  bap- 
tists were  determined  to  suffer  imprisonment  rather  than  go 
into  exile.     One  of  them,  Turner,  lay  in  prison  JNov.1670,  and 
warrants  were  then  in  two  marshals'  hands  against  Mr.Gould, 

*  Rev  Mr.  WinchelVs  Jubilee  sermon. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  lM 

but  he  was  not  then  taken  '  because  he  lived  on  Noddle's 
Island,  and  they  waited  to  take  him  at  town.'  Many  influen- 
tial men  in  the  town  '  laboured  abundantly  as  if  it  had  been 
for  their  best  friends  in  the  world  to  obtain  their  release,1  and 
from  the  documents  left  on  record,  we  should  suppose  the  op- 
position to  this  church  was  more  from  the  country  than  from  the 
people  of  Boston.*  The  church  at  this  time  held  their  meet- 
ing at  Noddle's  Island  every  sabbath  :  Mr.  Gould  officiated 
as  their  pastor,and  John  Russell,  senior,  who  had  joined  them 
from  Woburn,  held  the  office  of  elder.  This  Mr.  Russell  and 
another  of  their  members  by  the  name  of  Foster,  were  con- 
fined in  prison  for  nearly  six  months  in  1672,and  in  the  spring 
of  1673,  two  others  were  fined  for  withdrawing  from  the  pub- 
lick  meetings. 

Gov.  Bellingham,  who  had  been  opposed  to  the  baptists,  had 
died  Dec.7,  1672,  and  was  succeeded  at  the  May  election  by 
Maj.  Gen.  John  Leverett,  who  had    always  objected    to   the 
measures  pursued  against  them  :  and  one  oftheir  number  writes 
in  Jan.  1674, '  the  church  of  the  baptized  do  peaceably  enjoy 
their  liberty  !'    Their  pastor  died  in  October,  1675.     Encour- 
aged by  the  lenity  of  Gov.  Leverett's  administration,  they   re- 
solved,  in   Jan.  1678,  to  erect  a  place  of  worship  in   Boston. 
They  proceeded  with  so  much  caution  in  building  their  house, 
that  it  was  not  known  for  what  purpose  it  was  erected  until  it 
was  completed.  After  it  was  finished, the  church  purchased  the 
house,  with  the  land  it  was  built  upon,  of  Philip  Squire    and 
Ellis  Callender  for  £60  ;    and    they  met  in  it  for  worship    on 
the  15th  of  February,  1679.     It  was  situated  on    part  of  the 
lot  now  owned  and   occupied    by  the  church,  nearer  to  the 
street  than   the  present   meeting-house  stands.     The  society 
did  not  enjoy  it  long  unmolested  ;  in  May,  their  leaders  were 
convented  before  the  court  and  admonished,  and  an  order  was 
then   passed  that  no  meetings  should  be  held   in   any  house, 
erected  without  the  consent  of  the  town  in  which  it  might  be, 
on   penalty  of  forfeiture  or   demolition.     They  therefore  re- 
frained from  meeting,  (in  the  mean  time  ordaining  Mr.Russell 
as  their  pastor)  until  another  letter  came,  July  24,  1679,  from 
the   king,  forbidding  that  any  of  his  subjects,  not  being  papists, 
should  be  subjected  to  fines  or  forfeitures  or  other  incapacities 
for  serving  God  in  the  way   they  might   desire.     Then  they 
ventured  to  meet  again  ;  and  again  they   were  summoned    to 


*  A  petition  (which  see  in  Backus  i.  380)  was  offered  to  the  court  in  behalf  of  the  prisoners. 
Henry  Shrimpton,  who  died  after  the  17th  of  July,1666,  when  he  made  his  will,  left  10  pounds 
4  to  the  society  of  christians  that  doth  now  meet  at  Noddle's  Island,  of  which  is  Gould  and 
Osborn  and  the  rest,  as  a  token  of  my  love.'  Mr.  S.  left  property  worth  10,000?.  of  which  he 
gave  some  to  each  of  the  other  churches,  and  50/.  to  the  town,  on  condition  that  he  might  be 
buried  in  the  tomb  with  his  former  wife,  otherwise  nothing. 


152  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON". 

desist,  and  the  court  ordered  the  marshal  to  nail  up  the  house, 
which  he  did  on  March  8,  1680,  and  posted  on  the  door  a 
paper  in  these  words  : 

'  All  persons  are  to  take  notice,  that  by  order  of  the  Court, 
the  doors  of  this  house  are  shut  up,  and  that  they  are  inhibited 
to  hold  any  meeting  therein,  or  to  open  the  doors  thereof, 
without  license  from  authority,  till  the  Court  take  further  or- 
der, as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their  peril.' 

'  The  church  met  in  the  yard,  next  Lord's  day,  and  in  the 
week  ensuing  erected  a  temporary  covering  ;  but  coming  the 
second  Lord's  day,  they  found  the  doors  of  the  house  open, 
and  they  continued  meeting  in  it  till  the  General  Court  met  in 
May  following,  when,  having  been  admonished  in  open  Court, 
by  the  Governour,  and  charged  not  to  meet  in  their  house, 
they  were  dismissed  ;  and  the  Court  agreed  to  suspend  any 
further  proceedings  against  them. 

Thus  were  the  baptists  '  left  to  worship  God  as  they  chose, 
although  the  law  forbade  it;  but  neither  the  church  nor  the 
rulers  afterwards  regarded  this  prohibition.' 

While  the  baptists  were  thus  earnestly  contending  for  the 
application  of  baptism  to  believers  only,  a  question  arose 
among  the  pedobaptists  themselves,  of  most  peculiar  '  exercise 
and  concernment  respecting  the  ecclesiastical  state  of  their 
posterity.'  To  some  unpleasant  disagreements  on  this  sub- 
ject is  to  be  traced  the  origin  of  the  Old  South  Church. 

In  1657. the  first  church  had  voted,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  a 
church  to  exercise  church  power  regularly  over  the  children 
of  their  members,  who  had  been  baptized  in  infancy,  and  to 
take  care  that  their  life  and  knowledge  might  be  answerable 
to  the  engagement  made  by  their  relatives.  This  duty  they 
put  into  practice.  This  opinion  was  sanctioned  by  a  council, 
and  another  proposition  was  adopted,  which  gave  to  such  per- 
sons the  right  to  bring  their  children  for  baptism,  on  condition 
of  their  owning  the  covenant  before  the  church,  though  they 
might  not  have  sufficient  confidence  of  their  own  regeneration, 
to  justify  themselves  in  partaking  of  the  sacrament.  This 
was  the  commencement  of  the  half-way  covenant. 

Some  persons  feared  that  a  consequence  of  adopting  this 
rule  would  be,  that  before  the  churches  should  be  aware, 
'  a  worldly  part  of  mankind  might  carry  all  things  into  such 
a  course  of  proceeding,  as  would  be  very  disagreeable  unto 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  Among  those  who  were  of  this  opin- 
ion was  the  Rev. John  Davenport,  of  New  Haven.  It  happen- 
ed very  singularly  that  the  first  church,  which  had  acted  on 
the  principles  recommended  by  the  synod,  and  whose  pastor, 
Mr.  Wilson,  had  decidedly  approved  them,  should,  when  call- 
ed to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  his  death,  choose  Mr. 
Davenport.     Yet  so  the   major  part  did,  in  opposition  to  a 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTOX.  153 

large  minority.  Mr.  Davenport  accepted  their  invitation, 
and  he  and  the  Rev.  James  Allen,  from  England,  were  or- 
dained, the  former  as  pastor,  and  the  latter  as  teacher  of  the 
church,  on  the  9th  of  December,  1668.  This  step  created  so 
great  a  division,  that  the  minority  withdrew,  and  formed  a 
new  society,  by  the  advice  of  '  councils  fetched  from  other 
churches  in  the  neighbourhood.' 

The  names  of  the  thirty  '  brethren  which  came  off  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  third  [pedobaptist]  church,  partly  on 
May  12,  and  partly  on  May  16,  1669,  were  Capt.  Wm.  Da- 
vis, Messrs.  Hez.  Usher,  John  Hull,  Edw.  Raynsford,  Peter 
Bracket,  Jacob  Eliot,  Peter  Oliver,  Tho.  Brattle,  Edw.  Raw- 
son,  J.  Scottow,  Benja.  Gibbs  ;  Major  T.  Savage,  Messrs.  Jo. 
Rocke,  Theodore  Atkinson,  John  Wing,  Richard  Truesdale, 
Theophilus  Frarye  [and]  R.  Walker,  John  Aldin,  Benja. 
Thurston,  Wm.  Salter,  John  Morse,  Josiah  Belcher,  Seth  Per- 
ry, Jas.  Pemberton,  Wm.  Dawes,  Jo.  Davis,  Mr.  Thomas 
Thacher  [and]  Joseph  Belknap.' 

The  heading  of  their  covenant*  says  the  church  was  gath- 
ered in  Charlestown,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1669.      In  July  a 


*  Covenant  of  the  Old  South  Church. 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  called  of  God  to  join  together  into  a  church,  in 
heart  sense  of  our  unworthiness  thereof,  disability  thereunto,  and  aptness  to  forsake  the 
Lord,  cast  off  his  government,  and  neglect  our  duty  one  to  another,  do  in  the  name  of  J.  C. 
our  L.  trusting  only  in  his  grace  and  help,  solemnly  bind  ourselves  together  as  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God,  constantly  to  walk  together  as  a  chh.  of  Christ,  according  to  all  those  holy 
rules  of  God's  word  given  to  a  chh.  body  rightly  establ.  so  far  as  we  already  know  them, 
or  they  shall  be  hereafter  farther  made  known  unto  us.  And  particularly,  we  do  first  of  all 
ace.  to  the  tenor  of  the  everl.  cov.  give  up  ourselves  and  our  offsp.  unto  God  our  chief  yea 
only  good  :  unto  our  L.  J.  C.  as  the  only  mediator,  our  only  spotl.  head  and  Lord,  receiving 
and  relying  on  him  not  only  as  our  h.  p.  for  satisf.  and  interc.  but  also  as  our  prophet  to  t, 
and  King  to  reign  over  us,  and  unto  the  H.  S.  to  be  a  temple  to  him,  that  by  his  dwelling 
and  working  in  us  we  may  have  and  be  establ.  in  fellowship  with  God  in  C.  and  one  with 
another.  And  for  the  furth.  of  this  blessed  fp.  we  do  likewise  promise  to  end.  to  establ.  am. 
ourselves  and  convey  down  to  post,  all  the  holy  truths  and  ordin.  of  the  g.  committed  to  the 
Ghhs.  in  faith  and  observance,  opposing  to  the  utm.  of  our  chh.  power  whatever  is  diverse 
therefrom  or  cont.  thereto.  Also  we  do  give  up  ours,  unto  one  an.  in  the  L.  and  by  the  will 
of  G.  hereby  prom'g  to  cleave  one  to  an.  as  fellow  m.  of  the  same  b.  in  brotherly  1.  and  holy 
watchf.  unto  mutual  ed.  in  C.  J.  and  to  be  subj.  in  and  for  the  L.  to  all  the  adm.  and  cen- 
sures of  the  congr.  so  far  as  the  same  shall  be  ord.  ace.  to  the  rules  of  God's  most  holy  wd. 
St  finally  we  do  hby.  cov.  and  prom.  thro,  the  help  of  the  same  grace  to  hold,  promote  &. 
rnaint.  sisterly  fp.  and  coram,  with  all  the  chh.  of  saints  in  all  those  holy  ways  of  order  app. 
betw.  ym.  by  our  L.  J.  C.  to  our  utmost,  esp.  wt.  those  among  wh.  the  L.  hath  set  us  ;  that 
the  L.  may  be  one  and  his  n.  one  in  all  these  chh.  thro'out  all  gen.  to  his  et.  gl.  in  C.  J. 
And  now  the  good  Lord  be  merciful  unto  us,  pardg.  ace.  to  the  greatness  of  his  gr.  as  all 
our  past  sins  so  esp.  our  chh.  sins  in  negligence  &.  unfreq.  of  former  enjoym.  &.  accept  as  a 
sweet  savour  in  J.  C.  this  our  offg.  up  oursv.  unto  him  in  this  work — filling  this  his  house 
with  his  own  glory— making  us  faithf.  to  himself,  &  one  unto  an.  ace.  to  himself,  for  his  holy 
name  sake.    Amen. 

20 


15.4  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

council  was  called  by  Gov.  Bellingham,  '  fearing,'  as  he  says 
in  the  order,  '  a  sudden  tumult  ;  some  persons  attempting  to 
set  up  an  edifice  for  publick  worship,  which  is  apprehended 
by  authority  to  be  detrimental  to  the  publick  peace.'  But 
the  council  thought  best  not  to  interpose  any  farther  than  to 
caution  those,  who  were  about  to  erect  the  house,  to  conform 
to  the  laws  on  that  subject.  They  accordingly  applied  to 
the  selectmen,  who  passed  a  vote  26,  5,  1669,  '  that  there  is 
need  of  another  meeting-house  to  be  erected  in  this  town  ;' 
though  they  judged  it  did  not  belong  to  them  to  determine  the 
placing  of  it.  The  house  was  erected  on  the  spot  where  the 
Old  South  now  stands,  and  the  abovenamed  Mr.  Thacher 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church,  Feb.  16,  1670.* 

Mr.  T.  was  from  Salisbury  in  England,  where  his  father, 
Mr.  Peter  Thacher,  was  minister.  He  arrived  in  this  coun- 
try in  1635,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  received  his  education 
under  Mr.  Charles  Chauncy,  who  was  afterwards  president 
of  the  college.  In  1644  he  was  settled  at  Weymouth,  where 
he  remained  more  than  twenty  years,  till  after  the  death  of 
his  first  wife,  when  upon  marrying  a  second,  who  belonged  to 
Boston,  he  removed  hither,  and  engaged  himself  in  the  prac- 
tice of  physick,  to  which  he  had  devoted  considerable  atten- 
tion :  this  he  did  not  entirely  relinquish,  after  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Old  South.  He  was  the  author  of  the  first  med- 
ical tract  which  appeared  in  this  state,  which  was  a  discourse 
on  the  subject  of  the  small-pox  and  measles,  published  1677. 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 


Sermons  in  stones,  and  good  in  every  thing1. 

Shakspeure. 


We  shall  devote  this  chapter  to  a  variety  of  miscellaneous 
facts,  which  were  interesting  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence. 

The  following  useful  regulation  is  found  in  the  town  records, 
March  14,  1664.  For  the  more  orderly  and  deliberate  car- 
rying on  of  the  affairs  of  the  town,  it  is  ordered,  that  hence- 
forth there  shall  be  no  alteration  made  in  the  way  of  elec- 
tions, or  other  matters  of  moment  and  publick  concernment, 
that  hath  not  been  duly  considered  of,  and  proposed  at  a  pub- 


*  Mrs.  Norton  had  conveyed  the  land  to  several  of  the  above  gentlemen  in  their  associate 
capacity,  by  a  deed,  April  1,  3669. 


HISTORY    OF   EOSTON.  155 

lick   town  meeting,   orderly  called,  before  the  meeting  when 
the  final  determination  shall  be  put  to  vote. 

ELEVEN    O'CLOCK    BELL. 

The  origin  of  our  eleven  o'clock  bell  is  found  under  date 
of  25.  5.  1664.  '  For  the  more  convenient  and  expeditious 
despatch  of  merchants'  [and  maritime]  affairs,  or  any  other 
relating  to  strangers  or  our  inhabitants,  it  is  ordered  that  the 
bell  shall  be  rung  at  eleven  of  the  clock  every  working  day, 
to  give  notice  thereof  to  all  persons  concerned  ;  and  that  the 
ringer  shall  be  allowed  12J.  a  year  by  every  person  that 
commonly  resorts  thereunto,  and  that  they  may  assemble  in 
the  room  under  the  Town-house,  for  the  space  of  one  hour, 
for  the  ends  above  expressed.' 

NORTH   AND    SOUTH   BATTERIES. 

Some  of  the  letters  from  the  king  in  1665  had  recommend- 
ed to  the  court  to  fortify  against  the  Dutch  and  other  enemies  ; 
how  faithfully  they  obeyed,  appears  in  the  subjoined  report, 
which  is  found  in  the  colony  records  for  1666,  p.  222. 

'  We  the  subscribers  being  appointed  a  committee  by  the 
Hon.  Court,  to  view  the  batteries  lately  erected  by  Maj.  Gen. 
John  Leverett,  with  the  advice  of  the  committee  of  the  militia 
in  Boston,  accordingly  attended  to  that  service,  and  under  the 
conduct  of  the  said  Maj.  General  we  entered  a  well  contrived 
fort  called  Boston  Sconce,  the  artillery  whereof  is  of  good 
force  and  well  mounted,  the  gunner  attending  the  same. 
The  form  thereof  is  suitable  to  the  place,  so  as  to  scour  the 
harbour  to  the  full  length  of  their  shot  every  way  ;  it  is  spa- 
cious within,  that  the  traverse  of  one  gun  will  not  hinder  the 
other's  course;  and  for  defence  the  foundation  is  of  stone,  and 
well  banked  with  earth,  for  dulling  the  shot,  and  hindering 
execution.  Finally,  we  apprehend  it  to  be  the  completest  xoork 
of  the  kind,  which  hitherto  hath  been  ordered  in  this  country. 
We  also  took  survey  of  another  work,  on  the  north  side  of 
Boston,  called  Merry's  point,  raised  with  stones  ;  the  founda- 
tion is  defended  from  the  violence  of  the  sea  with  spyles  and 
planks  ;  the  wall  of  a  considerable  thickness,  yet  less  so  than 
by  reason  of  the  sharp  edges  next  the  cannon,  and 
wideness  of  the  ports  within,  which  (being  faced  with  strong 
timber  as  intended)  will  be  much  better.  To  conclude,  we 
judge  the  defence  to  be  considerable,  and  the  offence  to  be 
available  (by  God's  blessing)  for  the  thing  intended,  for  which 
the  actors  and  contrivers,  whereof  Maj.  Gen.  L.  hath  been 
the  chief,  both  in  contriving,  acting  and  disbursing,  deserve 
the  thanks  of  this  court  and  all  due  encouragement.  Boston 
Sconce  hath  nine  guns  mounted  and  four  more  intended  with- 


3  56  HISTOUY    OF    BOSTOIV. 

out,  and  seven  at  Merry's  point.'  Then  follows  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Gen.  L.  and  j£lOO  grant  for  his  services. 

DEATH    AND    CHARACTER   OF    REV.    MR.   WILSON. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Wilson,  the  first  pastor  of  the  First 
Church,  occurred  in  1667,  on  the  7th.  of  August,  in  the  79th 
year  of  his  age.  He  left  an  amiable  character,  and  is  repre- 
sented as  one  of  the  most  humble,  pious,  and  benevolent  men. 
Cotton  Mather,  who  tells  us  he  never  would  sit  for  his  like- 
ness, says  '  if  the  picture  of  this  good,  and  therein  great  man, 
were  to  be  exactly  given,  great  zeal  with  great  love  would  be 
the  two  principal  strokes,  that  joined  with  orthodoxy  should 
make  up  his  portraiture.'  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Wilson,  a 
prebend  of  St.  Paul's  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and 
received  his  education  at  King's  college,  Cambridge.  His 
cotemporaries  considered  him  an  excellent  poet,  though  noth- 
ing which  he  has  left  behind  would  lead  us  to  form  that  opin- 
ion of  him.  His  principal  forte  lay  in  the  making  of  ana- 
grams upon  the  names  of  his  friends,  and  the  happy  faculty 
he  possessed,  of  flattering  them  in  that  way  for  their  virtues, 
probably  gained  him  their  compliments  in  return.  His  heart 
was  full  of  compassion  for  the  distressed  and  of  affection  for 
all  :  his  house  was  renowned  for  hospitality,  and  his  purse 
was  continually  emptying  itself  into  the  hands  of  the  needy. 
This  disposition  was  so  remarkable,  that  it  could  not  escape 
unnoticed.  One  day  as  he  was  present  at  a  general  muster 
of  the  military  corps,  a   gentleman  standing   by  said  to    him, 

4  Sir,  Pit  tell  you  a  great  thing  :  here's  a  mighty  body  of  people, 
and  there  is  not  seven  of  them  all,  but  what  loves  Mr.  Wilson.' 
On  which  he  instantly  and  pleasantly  replied,  '  Sir,  Pll  tell 
you  as  good  a  thing  as  that  :  here's  a  mighty  body  of  people,  and 
there  is  not  so  much  as  one  of  them  all  but  Mr.  Wilson  loves 
him.'  The  witty  Mr.  Ward,  (the  simple  cobler,)  passed  a 
very  neat  encomium  on  him,  when  he  gave  as  an  anagram  of 
his  name,  I  pray  come  in,  you  are  heartily  welcome.  And 
the  following  lines  upon  his  hearse  are  far  from  being  inex- 
pressive, though  '  some  thought  the  Muses  looked  very  much 
dissatisfied'  at  them: 

Anagram. 
JOHN  WTILSON. 

Oh  !  change  it  not :  no  sweeter  name  or  thing-, 
Throughout  the  world,  within  our  ears  shall  ring. 

Magnolia. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  157 

Mr.  Wilson  met  with  his  share  of  the  difficulties  of  the  wil- 
derness. He  lost  his  houses  several  times  by  fire  ;  buried 
his  wife  and  some  of  his  children  and  grand  children,  under 
trying  circumstances  ;  outlived  two  of  his  friends  and  asso- 
ciates in  the  ministerial  office  ;  saw  errours  stalking  into  the 
churches,  in  forms  which  appeared  to  him  dreadful  in  the  ex- 
treme; and  died  lamenting,  that  the  zeal  and  pious  devotion  of 
the  first  generation  had  died  with  them,  and  that  theirchildren 

{promised  nothing  better  than  to  prove  degenerate  plants.  He 
eft  a  little  property,  which  was  valued  at  £419.  14s.  6 d.  and 
distributed  it  in  small  portions  to  many  individuals,  not  for- 
getting the  poor  of  his  own  church.  The  foregoing  fac  simile 
represents  the  signature  to  his  will.* 

SIGNS    OF    THE    TIMES. 

The  relation  of  an  incident  in  1668  will  show  us  the  char- 
acter of  the  age.  '  There  appeared  a  meteor  in  the  heavens 
in  the  beginning  of  March,  in  the  form  of  a  spear,  of  a  bright 
colour,  something  thicker  in  the  midst  than  at  either  end.  It 
was  seen  several  nights  together,  in  the  west,  about  half  an 
hour  within  night  :  it  stood  stooping,  one  end  pointing  towards 
the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  moved  downwards  by  little  and 
little,  till  it  descended  beneath  the  horizon.'  This  and  some 
other  occurrences  excited  the  magistrates  to  make  an  effort 
towards  '  a  reformation  of  manners  :'  for  it  was  observed, 
that  the  youth  of  the  age  had  degenerated  very  much  from 
the  strictness  of  their  fathers.  A  brief  was  therefore  issued 
to  all  the  ministers  in  the  colony,  urging  them  to  a  more  strict 
performance  of  their  duty  of  visiting  and  instructing  families, 
with  the  hope,  that  '  the  effectual  and  constant  prosecution 
hereof  will  have  a  tendency  to  promote  the  salvation  of  souls, 
to  suppress  the  growth  of  sin  and  profaneness,  to  beget  more 
love  and  unity  among  the  people,  and  more  reverence  and 
esteem  of  the  ministry,  and  it  will  assured!}'  be  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  your  crown,  and  recompense  in  eternal  glory.' 

It  is  evident,  that  the  face  of  society  was  now  becoming 
changed,  and  so  strongly  marked,  that  the  line  was  plainly 
to  be  drawn,  between  those  who  maintained  a  regard  for 
primitive  holiness,  and  those  who  preferred  to  follow  the  in- 
clination of  their  own  hearts.  This  comports  well  with  the 
observation  of  Hutchinson,  that  the  colony  about  this  time 
(1669)  made  a  greater  figure  than  it  ever  did  at  any  other 
time.     Their  trade  was  as  extensive  as  they  could  wish  :  no 


*  "  1668.  May  3.  Dorchester  chh.  records.  Role-on-God,  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Cotton,  is 
baptized  by  virtue  of  communion  of  churches  :  his  father  being  a  member  of  the  church  at 
Boston,  but  there  is  no  officer  there  to  dispense  the  ordinance  at  present." 


158  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON* 

custom-house  was  established.  The  acts  of  parliament  of  the 
12th  and  15th  of  king  Charles  II.  for  regulating  the  planta- 
tion trade  were  in  force,*  but  the  governour,  whose  business  it 
was  to  carry  them  into  execution,  was  annually  to  be  elected 
by  the  people,  whose  interest  it  was  that  they  should  not  be 
observed.  Some  of  the  magistrates  and  principal  merchants 
grew  very  rich,  and  a  spirit  of  industry  and  economy  prevail- 
ed through  the  colony.' 

DEATH  AND  CHARACTER  OP  REV.  MR.  DAVENPORT. 

The  first  church  lost  their  senior  pastor,  on  the  11th.  of 
March  1670,  Mr.  Davenport  dying  suddenly  of  apoplexy, 
aged  72.  'Although  his  career  in  Boston  was  short  and 
troublous,  it  had  been  long  and  glorious  in  New-England. 
Few  men  were  better  qualified  for  planting  the  gospel  in  a 
new  world,  and  seldom  has  any  man  made  a  happier  use  of 
his  natural  and  moral  energies.  His  intrepidity  saved  king 
Charles' judges,  Whalley  and  Gone,  who  fled  to  New-Haven, 
in  1661,  and  who  were  hidden  in  his  house,  whilst  he  was 
preaching  in  publick,  before  the  officers  in  pursuit  of  them,  a 
sermon  from  the  following  words  :  "  Take  counsel ;  execute 
judgment;  make  thy  shadow  as  the  night  in  the  midst  of  the 
noon  day  :  hide  the  outcasts  ;  bewray  not  him  that  wander- 
eth  ;  let  mine  outcasts  dwell  with  thee.  Moab,  be  thou  a 
covert  to  them  from  the  face  of  the  spoiler."  Mr.  D.  agreed 
in  sentiment  with  Mr.  Cotton  respecting  the  civil  as  well  as 
religious  polity  of  the  bible,  and  endeavoured  a  system  of 
order,  which  should  nearly  correspond  with  the  Hebrew 
institutes  and  the  usages  of  the  primitive  christians.' 

josselyn's  description. 

Mr.  Josselyn,  whose  former  travels  are  noted  in  page  82, 
visited  Boston  again  in  1663  and  was  hereabouts  till  1671, 
when  he  published  the  result  of  his  inquiries.  We  give  the 
substance  of  them,  omitting  somewhat,  which  he  borrowed 
from  Wood  and  Johnson. 

'  Boston  the  metropolis  of  this  colony, or  rather  of  the  whole 
country,  is  in  longitude  315  deg.  and  42  deg.  30  min.  of  north 
latitude.  The  buildings  are  handsome,  joining  one  to  the 
other,  as  in  London,  with  many  large  streets,  most  of  them 
paved  with  pebble  ;  in  the  high  street  toward  the  common 
there  are  fair  buildings,  some  of  stone,  and  at  the  east  end  of 
the  town,  one  among  the  rest,  built  by  the  shore,  by  Mr. 
Gibbs,  a  merchant  ;  being  a  stately  edifice,  which,  it  is 
thought,  will  stand  him  in  little  less  than  £3000,  before  it  be 
fully  finished.     The  houses  are  for  the  most  part  raised  upon 

*  Tbese  acts  forbade  the  introduction  of  foreign  produce,  except  from  England. 


HISTORY   OF  BOSTON.  15.9 

the  sea  banks,  and  wharfed  out  with  great  industry  and  cost, 
many  of  them  standing  on  piles  [?]  close  together  on  each 
side  of  the  streets  as  in  London,  and  are  furnished  with  many 
fair  shops. 

'  The  town  is  not  divided  into  parishes,  yet  they  have  three 
fair  meeting-houses,  or  churches,  which  hardly  suffice  to  re- 
ceive the  inhabitants  and  strangers  that  come  in  from  all 
parts.  There  is  also  a  Town-house  built  upon  pillars,  where 
the  merchants  may  confer  :  in  the  chambers  above  they  hold 
the  monthly  courts.  Here  is  the  dwelling  of  the  governour 
[Bellingham].  On  the  south  there  is  a  small  but  pleasant 
common,  where  the  gallants,  a  little  before  sunset,  walk  with 
their  marmalet  madams  as  we  do  in  Moor-fields,  till  the  nine- 
o'clock  bell  rings  them  home  to  their  respective  habitations  : 
when  presently  the  constables  walk  the  rounds  to  see  good 
order  kept  and  to  take  up  loose  people.' 

DEATH   AND    CHARACTER    OP    MR.    BELLINGHAM. 

Gov.  Bellingham,  who  from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival,  in 
1635,  had  been  an  inhabitant  of  Boston,  died  Dec.  7,  1672. 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  popular  man,  and  was  strongly 
attached  to  the  liberties  of  the  people.  He  was  by  education 
a  lawyer.  As  a  man  he  was  benevolent,  upright,  and  active 
in  business  :  it  is  always  mentioned  as  a  singular  part  of  his 
character,  that  he  would  never  take  a  bribe.  As  a  christian 
he  was  devout,  zealous,  and  attentive  to  external  forms.  In 
politicks,  he  leaned  rather  to  the  democratick  side,  but  in  the 
church  was  a  violent  opposer  of  the  new  sects,  that  contended 
for  religious  freedom.  He  was  sometimes  subject  to  melan- 
choly and  mental  derangement,  lived  to  the  age  of  80  years, 
and  was  the  only  surviving  patentee  named  in  the  charter. 
His  will  left  a  large  property  for  charitable  and  pious  uses, 
but  it  was  made  in  such  a  manner,  that,  after  some  years' 
dispute,  the  general  court  thought  it  necessary  to  supply  the 
defects  of  it,  by  making  a  disposition  of  his  estate  themselves.* 

THE    OLD    WHARVES. 

We  gather  the  history  of  the  origin  of  the  Old  Wharf, 
so  called,  from  the  following  documents  : 

'  Boston,  N.  E.  Sept.  10,  1673.  Whereas  the  Honourable 
Council  of  this  jurisdiction  have  lately  recommended  to  the 
consideration  of  the  selectmen  of  this  town,  the  necessity  of 
erecting  a  wall  or  wharf,  upon  the  fiats  before  the  town, 
from  the    Sconce   to    Capt.  Scarlett's   wharf,  or  using  some 


*  '  March  21.  1673,  the  castle,  at  the  entrance  of  Boston  harbour,  being  of  timber,  was 
burnt  down  by  accident.  Anew  fertress  of  stone  was  erected,  said  thentobc  a  strong  wort." 


160  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

other  means  for  securing  the  town  from  fireships,  in  case  of 
the  approach  of  an  enemy,  which  the  selectmen  represented 
to  the  inhabitants,  at  a  publick  meeting,  Sept.  5,  1673  ;  and 
whereas  the  said  inhabitants  did  on  that  day,  by  two  publick 
votes,  Jirst  deny  to  have  the  said  work  carried  on  at  the  pub- 
lick charge  of  the  town,  and  secondly,  did  grant  and  give 
power  to  the  selectmen,  that  they  might  order  and  dispose  of 
the  flats  before  the  town,  from  the  Sconce  aforesaid  to  Capt. 
S.'s  wharf  for  the  better  security  of  the  town,  as  they  shall 
think  best — Now  the  aforesaid  selectmen,  having  taken  into 
their  serious  consideration  the  necessity  of  something  to  be 
done  to  the  end  aforesaid,  and  of  some  way  of  encouragement 
to  such  as  shall  undertake  so  great  a  work,  do  propound  to 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  as  followeth  : 

1.  That  a  wall  or  wharf  of  wood  or  stone  be  erected  from 
the  said  sconce  to  Capt.  Scarlett's  wharf,  which  is  in  length 
about  2200  ft.  ;  that  it  be  made  in  breadth  22  ft.  at  bottom, 
and  to  be  raised  6  feet  high  at  the  least,  with  all  expedition  ; 
and  afterwards  as  soon  as  may  be  to  add  thereto  in  height,  as 
shall  be  judged  convenient  for  a  breastwork  to  play  guns  on, 
which  is  supposed  to  be  14  or  15  ft.  high  in  all,  and  so  car- 
ried up  to  be  20  ft.  broad  at  the  top,  to  be  made  substantial 
and  uniform,  and  continued  and  maintained  at  the  cost  and 
charge  of  the  undertakers  according  to  these  propositions. 

2.  For  encouragement  hereunto  the  said  selectmen  of  this 
town  of  B.  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  successors  in  the 
office,  do,  according  to  the  power  committed  to  them,  hereby 
order  and  declare,  first,  that  such  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town  as  shall  undertake  and  carry  on  the  said  work 
as  above  expressed,  shall  possess  and  enjoy,  and  hereby  is 
granted  to  them,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  those  flats 
that  lie  before  the  town,  between  the  town  and  the  said  wall 
or  wharf  so  to  be  built  ;  200  feet  whereof  back  towards  the 
town,  and  next  adjacent  to  said  wall  or  wharf,  shall  be  free 
for  them  the  said  undertakers  to  build  wharves  and  warehou- 
ses upon  as  they  shall  see  cause,  proportionably  in  breadth 
to  what  they  build  on  in  the  front  :  the  remainder  to  be  for 
dock  or  shelter  for  ships  or  vessels  : 

Except  always,  and  it  is  hereby  reserved  to  such  of  the  pres- 
ent abutters  or  borderers  on  the  said  flats,  as  shall  come  in 
undertakers  of  said  w.  or  wh.  and  carry  an  end  the 
same  in  convenient  time,  with  the  rest  of  the  u.  that  they  shall 
have  liberty  of  carrying  out  their  present  wharves,  before 
their  own  land,  in  proportion  with  others  about  100  ft.  beyond 
the  Hon.  Gov.  Leverett's  and  Mr.  Alford's  present  wharves, 
and  to  improve  it,  for  the  best  advantage  of  them,  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  as  shall  be  staked  out  in  a  Circular  Line, 
according  to  a  plot  or  map  now  taken  of  the  said  cove  : 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  161 

Reserving  also  to  such  others  of  the  present  abutters  or 
borderers  on  the  said  flats,  who  refuse  to  join  in  the  said  wall 
or  whf.  aforesaid,  liberty  of  egress  and  regress  of  vessels,  and 
lying  at  their  wharves  for  loading  and  unlading  and  graving 
before  them.     Secondly, 

That  the  said  u.  and  carriers  an  end  of  said  w.  or  whf. 
shall,  according  to  and  in  proportion  to  what  they  build  in 
front,  have  right,  unto  all  income,  advantages  and  emoluments 
that  may  arise  or  accrue,  by  dockage  or  anchorage  of  any 
such  vessels  as  shall  harbour  or  be  secured  within  the  said 
cove,  as  also  by  fishing  within  the  said  cove,  or  in  the  mouth 
thereof,  and  all  other  liberties  and  privileges,  which  may 
arise  by  virtue  of  this  grant  of  the  selectmen,  between  the 
said  wharf  or  wall,  now  to  be  erected,  and  the  wharves  and 
docks  now  bordering  on  said  flats,  or  to  be  made  as  above 
expressed,  except  what  is  reserved  as  above.  It  is  further 
ordered  and  declared,  that  no  man  shall  subscribe  or  under- 
take for  less  than  twenty  feet  of  said  wall  or  wharf.' 

The  foregoing  propositions  were  signed  by  the  selectmen  ; 
forty-one  persons  very  soon  undertook  the  work  in  parcels 
from  20  ft.  to  120  feet  in  front,  and  their  agreement  '  being 
read  to  the  council  Nov.  11,  1673,  it  was  accepted.' 

The  circular  line,  mentioned  in  this  document,  is  a  very  im- 
portant boundary  at  the  present  day.  A  question  having 
arisen  concerning  it  so  soon  as  1673,  it  was  then,  Oct.  28th, 
determined  that  the  southernmost  part  of  Capt.  Scarlett's 
wharf  is  meant  and  understood  to  be  the  northerly  bounds 
thereof,  and  the  Sconce  to  be  the  southerly  bounds,  and  'from 
these  two  places  lines  to  be  run  the  nearest  or  shortest  cut 
into  the  channel  before  the  town,  and  the  channel  to  be  the 
eastern  or  easterly  bounds,  and  the  western  or  westerly  to  be 
100  ft.  without  the  Hon.  Gov.  Leverett's  and  Mr.  Wm.  Al- 
fred's wharf.'  Gov.  L.'s  wharf  was  at  that  time  the  wharf  on 
the  south  side  of  the  bottom  of  State-street,  and  Mr.  Alford's 
that  on  the  north  :  the  Long  wharf  has  since  been  built  be- 
tween thern.  Capt.  Scarlett's  wharf  was  that  at  the  bottom  of 
Fleet-street,  and  the  Sconce  was  situated  not  far  from  the 
head   of  India  wharf. 

Stupendous  as  this  undertaking  was,  for  the  period  when  it 
was  projected,  it  was  carried  into  execution,  and  the  proprie- 
tors received  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the  council  of  the 
colony,  May  11,  1631.  Happily  there  never  was  occasion  to 
employ  the  works  for  the  ends  forwrhich  they  were  designed  ; 
no  enemy  having  ever  passed  the  castle.  The  profits  from  the 
concern  were  found  so  small,  that  the  wharves  were  soon  suf- 
fered to  go  into  decay,  and  no  trace  is  now  to  be  seen  of 
them.  We  have  been  favoured  with  the  use  of  a  plan,  taken 
after  Long-wharf  was  built,which  exhibits  the  cove  and  all  the 
21 


162  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

wharves  between  the  two  extremities  of  the  circular  line,  the 
out  wharf  crossing  the  Long  at  the  T.  with  a  '  gap  or  passage 
of  80  ft.  wide  into  the  cove'  on  the  north  side  of  the  T,  and 
another  narrower  gap  on  the  south  side  of  Long  wharf. 


CHAPTER  XXVIIL 


Or  fighte  with  mee,  or  lose  thy  lande, 
No  better  termes  may  bee. 

Remains  of  Ancient  Poetrg. 

Whatever  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  colony  was  deeply 
felt  in  Boston,  and  scenes  were  about  opening  in  1674,  which 
kept  alive  the  publick  anxiety  from  that  time,  till  the  colo- 
nial  government  was  settled  under  a  new  charter. 

The  Indians  within  the  Massachusetts  bounds  were  not  sub- 
ject to  one  general  sachem,  but  divided  into  smaller  cantons 
or  tribes.  These,  one  after  another,  had  submitted  them- 
selves to  the  jurisdiction  of  our  government.  There  was  the 
appearance  of  amity  and  good  correspondence  on  all  sides, 
and  for  forty  years  together,  the  people  had  suffered  no  great 
concern  from  fears  of  any  irruption.  But  about  the  year 
1670,  suspicions  were  excited  by  some  strange  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians,  and  measures  of  precaution  were  taken 
against  them  Philip,  sachem  of  Mount  Hope,  was  the  chief 
"who  was  destined  to  give  the  greatest  annoyance.  He  was  a 
man  of  high  spirit,  and  could  not  bear  to  see  the  people  of 
Plymouth  colony  extending  their  settlements  over  the  domin- 
ions of  his  ancestors  :  and  although  his  father  had  at  one  time 
or  other  conveyed  to  them  all  that  they  were  possessed  of, 
yet  he  had  sense  enough  to  distinguish  a  free,  voluntary  cov- 
enant from  one  made  under  a  sort  of  duresse,  and  he  could 
never  rest  until  he  brought  on  the  war,  which  was  to  end  in 
his  destruction. 

While  Philip  was  making  professions  of  peace  and  friend- 
ship, he  was  secretly  laying  a  plot,  that  all  the  Indians  should 
rise  at  once,  in  all  quarters,  in  the  spring  of  1676,  and  drive 
the  English  entirely  out  of  the  land  :  but  circumstances  con- 
curred to  bring  on  a  rupture  at  an  earlier  period,  that. ended 
in  quite  a  different  result.  In  this  contest  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton took  a  very  efficient  part.  Philip's  men  made  an  attack 
on  some  persons  at  Swansey,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1675,  and 
information  being  immediately  brought  to  Boston,  a  company 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTON.  163 

of  foot  under  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  and  a  troop  of  horse 
under  Cnpt.  Thomas  Prentice  were  despatched  to  their  relief 
on  the  26th.  An  eclipse  of  the  moon,  which  happened  that 
evening,  produced  fearful  discouragements  in  this  little  army. 
Some  melancholy  fancies  imagined  that  they  saw  an  unusual 
black  spot  in  her  centre,  resembling  an  Indian's  scalp,  and 
this  brought  to  recollection  other  ominous  signs.  '  But  after 
the  moon  had  waded  through  the  dark  shadow  of  the  earth, 
and  borrowed  her  light  again,' the  two  companies  marched  on 
and  arrived  at  Swansey,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  Philip's 
dominions,  some  time  before  night  on  the  28th.  A  party  of 
the  Boston  troop,  unwilling  to  lose  their  time,  made  an  excur- 
sion into  the  enemy's  territory,  but  were  compelled  to  retreat 
with  the  loss  of  one  man,  Wui.  Hammond,  killed,  and  one 
man,  corporal  Belcher,  wounded. 

The  whole  body  of  the  forces  (Mass.  and  Plymouth)  made 
a  sally  the  next  morning,  crossed  the  bridge  that  led  to  Mt. 
Hope,  and  drove  the  enemy  before  them, a  mile  and  a  quarter  on 
the  other  side  of  it.  '  Ensign  Savage,  that  young  martial  spark,' 
says  Hubbard,  '  scarce  twenty  years  of  age,  had  at  that  time 
one  bullet  lodged  in  his  thigh,  another  shot  through  the  brim 
of  his  hat,  by  ten  or  twelve  of  the  enemy  discharging  upon 
him  together,  while  he  boldly  held  up  his  colours  in  the  front 
of  his  company.'  Major  Savage  arrived  soon  with  supplies 
and  took  the  command  :  Capt.  Edw.  Hutchinson  also  came 
up  shortly  after,  with  reinforcements  and  further  orders  from 
Boston.  A  few  skirmishes  routed  the  Indians  in  that  quar- 
ter ;  Philip  fled  to  the  western  part  of  the  colony,  and  some 
of  our  troops  returned.  Capt.  Henchman  started  again  from 
Boston,  in  November,  with  another  company.  Near  to  Men- 
don  they  heard  of  a  party  of  Indians,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
give  them  a  camisado,  as  they  called  it,  in  their  wigwams. 
The  captain  and  his  lieutenant,  Philip  Curtis,  accordingly  led 
their  men  out  to  the  fight,  but  most  of  them  flinched  in  the 
moment  of  need,  and  Capt.  H.  and  Lieut.  C.  were  left  with 
only  five  men  to  finish  the  combat.  The  lieutenant  and  one 
man  were  killed,  and  the  object  of  the  excursion  was  lost. 

The  following  winter  was  marked  with  numerous  rencon- 
tres, in  which  the  Indians  were  sometimes  victorious  and 
sometimes  obliged  to  retreat.  They,  however,  advanced  to- 
wards Boston,  and  some  of  them  expressed  the  hope,  that  they 
should  yet  see  that  town  in  ashes.  What  me  will,  me  do,  was 
their  motto,  and  the  people  believed  so  much  in  its  appropri- 
ateness, that  they  set  a  watch  at  the  entrance  of  the  town, 
and  no  Indian  whatever,  friendly  or  not,  was  allowed  to  enter 
unguarded.  Next  to  Philip  in  insolence,  there  was  a  John 
Monahco,  or  One-eyed  John,  who  had  threatened  hardest 
and  boasted  loud  of  what  he  should  accomplish  :    but  before 


164  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

the  year  was  closed,  Philip  himself  was  hunted  to  his  dens,  by 
Capt.  Church,  and  shot  by  a  friendly  Indian  ;  and  this  John, 
'  with  a  few  more  bragadocios  like  him  was  taken,  and  was 
seen  marching  towards  the  gallows,  through  Boston  streets, 
which  he  threatened  to  burn  at  his  pleasure,  with  an  baiter 
about  his  neck,  with  which  he  was  hanged  at  the  town's  end, 
Sept.  26,  1676.'     Thus  ended  king  Philip's  war. 

What  the  malice  of  the  savages  was  not  permitted  to  effect, 
took  place  through  other  means.  On  the  27th  of  November, 
the  town  was  alarmed  by  the  discovery  of  '  a  sad  fire,  acci- 
dentally kindled  by  the  carelessness  of  an  apprentice,  that  sat 
up  too  late  over  night,  as  was  conceived,  which  begun  an  hour 
before  day,  continuing  three  or  four,  in  which  time  it  burned 
down  to  the  ground  46  dwelling-houses,  besides  other  build- 
ings, together  with  a  meeting-house*  of  considerable  bigness. 
Some  mercy  was  observed,  mixt  with  the  judgment,  for  if  a 
great  rain  had  not  continued  all  the  time,  (the  roofs  and  walls 
of  their  ordinary  buildings  consisting  of  such  combustible 
matter)  that  whole  end-of  the  town  had  at  that  time  been  con- 
sumed.' 

This  is  Hubbard's  account  in  his  '  Indian  wars.'  Hutch- 
inson says,  '  it  broke  out  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at 
one  Wakefield's  house,  by  the  Red  Lion.'  The  wharf,  which 
opens  next  north  of  Richmond-street  (late  Proctor  lane),  was 
formerly  called  the  Red  Lion  wharf,  and  from  the  number  of 
buildings  destroyed,  and  the  names  of  persons  mentioned  in 
the  town  records,  as  interested  in  the  improvements  after- 
wards made  in  the  width  and  course  of  the  streets,  we  infer  that 
the  fire  extended  from  that  lane  as  far  north  as  Clark-street.t 
Great  pains  appear  to  have  been  taken  that  the  new  streets 
might  be  both  wider  and  straighter  than  before,  and  the  se- 
lectmen had  as  much  difficulty  to  persuade  the  owners  to 
give  up  an  inch  of  ground  then,  as  the  city  authorities  now 
have.  Some  of  the  wooden  houses  now  standing  in  Ann- 
street  were  probably  built  immediately  after  this  fire.  The 
house  at  the  head  of  the  slip  below  Richmond-street  is  thought 
by  the  occupant  to  be  150  years  old.  It  is  of  two  stories  ; 
the  second  projecting  about  18  inches  over  the  first.  There 
are  houses  in  several  parts  of  the  town,  built  in  the  same 
style4     The  fashion  is  said  to   have  been   introduced  here 

*  The  church  met  at  Dea.  Piillips'  house,  Dec.  3,  and  took  measures  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  house  of  worship  :  it  was  ready  in  the  course  of  the  next  year.  No  pew  was  to  be  built 
with  a  door  into  the  street ;  and  if  the  builder  of  the  pew  left  the  house,  the  pew  was  to 
revert  to  the  church. 

t  Town  Records,  Jan.  and  Aug.  1677. 

X  The  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  New  Brick  meeting-house  is  a  specimen  of  this  struc- 
ture, and  the  one  on  the  south  side,  at  the  corner  of  (late)  Proctor-lane,  is  in  the  previous 
fashion  of  two  low  stories  with  a  high,  peaked  roof:  until  late  years  it  retained  the  ancient 
small  glass  windows  with  leaden  sashes. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  165 

from  the  country,  where  this  structure  was  found  expedient,  to 
furnish  protection  from  the  assaults  of  the  natives.  This  is 
not  improbable  ;  but  another  opinion,  that  it  was  the  fashion 
of  the  times  and  prevailed  also  in  France  at  the  same  period, 
is  quite  as  likely. 

We  do  not  find  that  the  engine  authorized  in  1664  was  ever 
obtained,  but  after  this  fire  the  town  appears  to  have  sent 
abroad  for  one. 

Town  Records,  1679.  Jan.  27.  '  In  case  of  fire  in  the 
town,  where  there  is  occasion  to  make  use  of  the  engine  lately 
come  from  England,  Thomas  Atkins,  carpenter,  is  desired  and 
doth  engage  to  take  care  of  the  managing  of  the  said  engine, 
in  the  work  intended,  and  secure  it  the  best  he  can  from  dam- 
age, and  hath  made  choice  of  the  several  persons  following  to 
be  his  assistants,  which  are  approved  of,  and  are  promised  to 
be  paid  for  their  pains  about  the  work: — 'The  persons  who 
formed  the  first  engine  company,  were  Obadiah  Gill,  John 
Raynsford,  John  Barnard,  Thomas  Elbridge,  Arthur  Smith, 
John  Mills,  Caleb  Rawlins,  John  Wakefield,  Samuel  Green- 
wood, Edward  Martin,  Thomas  Barnard,  George  Robinson.' 

The  following  record  shows  us  the  antiquity  of  their  privile- 
ges. May  28,  1683.  It  is  agreed  that  Ralph  Carter  and  seven 
others,  one  man  out  of  each  company  of  the  train  bands,  should 
take  the  care  and  charge  of  the  water  engine,  to  keep  it  in 
good  order,  and  be  ready  upon  all  occasions  to  attend  the  use 
and  service  thereof,  when  the  said  Carter  shall  require  it,  or 
there  be  any  noise  or  cry  of  fire  breaking  out  in  any  part  of 
this  town  :  In  consideration  whereof,  with  consent  of  the  sev- 
eral captains,  they  shall  be  exempt  from  training,  and  are  to 
attend  the  said  service  upon  the  penalty  the  law  prefixeth  for 
not  training. 

Another  '  terrible  fire  began  about  midnight,  August  8, 1679, 
at  one  Gross's  house,  the  sign  of  the  Three  Mariners,  near  the 
dock.  All  the  warehouses  and  a  great  number  of  dwelling- 
houses,  with  the  vessels  then  in  the  dock,  were  consumed.  It 
continued  till  near  noon  the  next  day  ;  the  most  woful  deso- 
lation that  Boston  had  ever  seen  ;  eighty  odd  dwelling  houses 
and  seventy  odd  warehouses,  with  several  vessels  and  their 
lading  consumed  to  ashes.  The  whole  loss  computed  to  be 
£200,000.'    Hubbard  says  (N.E.  649)  '  it  was  set  on  fire*  by 


*  1679,  October  18.  p.  242.  Colony  Records.  Whereas  the  persons  hereafter  named  are 
under  vehement  suspicion  of  attempting  to  burn  the  town  of  Boston,  and  some  of  their  en- 
deavours prevailed  to  the  burning  of  one  house,  and  only  by  God's  providence  prevented 
from  further  damage  :  This  court  doth  order  that  Edward  Creeke  and  Deborah  his  wife, 
Hepzibab  Codman,  John  Avis,  John  Easte,  Samuel  Dogget,  Wm.  Penny,  Richard  Heath, 
Sypron  Jarman,  and  James  Dennis,  shall  depart  the  jurisdiction  and  never  return,  and  be 
kept  in  prison  until  ready  for  their  departure. 


166 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


some  malicious  wretches,  as  is  justly  suspected,  and  half  ra- 
ined the  whole  colony,  as  well  as  the  town.'  This  devasta- 
tion occasioned  such  a  demand  for  house  timber,  that  the  town 
petitioned  the  court  to  forbid  its  exportation  for  a  time. 
It  also  increased  the  watchfulness  of  the  people,  and  in  some 
new  regulations  adopted,  we  find  the  singular  one  that  a  man 
should  be  stationed  on  each  meeting-house  during  service  on 
the  sabbath  day,  to  give  the  alarm  in  case  of  any  fire  being 
discovered. 

A  law  was  made  about  this  time  to  prevent  the  erection  of 
wooden  buildings,  and  the  houses  and  warehouses  near  the 
town  dock,  which  were  rebuilt  after  the  great  fire  in  1679, 
were  either  constructed  with  brick,  or  plastered  on  the  outside 
with  a  strong  cement  intermixed  with  gravel  and  glass,  and 
slated  on  the  top.  They  were  two  stories  high,  with  a  gar- 
ret in  the  high  peaked  roof.*  One  of  them  is  yet  standing, 
and  is  represented  in  the  following  plate. 


ANCIENT  BUILDING 
AT    THE    CORNER   OF    ANN-STREET    AND    MARKET-SQUARE. 


VIEW    PROM    THE    N.    E.    CORNER    OF    ELJI-STREET. 


*  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  3.  iv.  189. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  167 

This,  says  a  description  furnished  by  a  friend,  is  perhaps 
the  only  wooden  building  now  standing  in  the  city  to  show 
what  was  considered  elegance  of  architecture  here,  a  century 
and  a  half  ago.  The  peaks  of  the  roof  remain  precisely  as 
they  were  first  erected,  the  frame  and  external  appearance 
never  having  been  altered.  The  timber  used  in  the  building 
was  principally  oak,  and,  where  it  has  been  kept  dry.  is  per- 
fectly sound  and  intensely  hard.  The  outside  is  covered  with 
plastering,  or  what  is  commonly  called  rough-cast.  But  in- 
stead of  pebbles,  which  are  generally  used  at  the  present  day 
to  make  a  hard  surface  on  the  mortar,  broken  glass  was  used. 
This  glass  appears  like  that  of  common  junk  bottles,  broken 
into  pieces  of  about  half  an  inch  diameter,  the  sharp  corners 
of  which  penetrate  the  cement  in  such  a  manner,  that  this 
great  lapse  of  years  has  had  no  perceptible  effect  upon  them. 
The  figures  16  8  0  were  impressed  into  the  rough-cast  to 
show  the  year  of  its  erection,  and  are  now  perfectly  legible. 
This  surface  was  also  variegated  with  ornamental  squares, 
diamonds  and  fiowers-de-luce.  The  building  is  only  two  sto- 
ries high,  and  is  about  32  feet  long  and  17  wide  ;  yet  tradi- 
tion informs  us  that  it  was  once  the  residence  of  two  respect- 
able families,  and  the  front  part  was  at  the  same  time  occupi- 
ed for  two  shops  or  stores.  The  water  of  the  dock  flowed  on 
the  south  and  southwest  sides  of  it,  as  represented  on  the  plan 
for  1722.  The  principal  apothecary'  shop  in  the  town  was 
once  kept  there,  and  one  part  of  it  continues  to  be  improved 
for  the  same  business. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


He's  gone,  and  who  knows  how  he  may  report 
Thy  words,  by  adding  fuel  to  the  flame  ? 
Expect  another  message  more  imperious, 
More  lordly  thund'ring  than  thou  well  wilt  bear. 

Samson  Agonistes. 

'In  the  height  of  the  distress  of  the  Indian  war,  and  while 
the  authority  of  the  colony  was  contending  with  the  natives 
for  the  possession  of  the  soil,  complaints  were  making  in  Eng- 
land, which  struck  at  the  powers  of  government ;  and  an  in- 
quiry was  set  on  foot,  which  was  continued  from  time  to  time, 
until  it  finally  issued  in  a  quo  warranto  and  judgment  there- 
upon against  the  charter.' 

The  compliance  of  the  colony  with  the  requisitions  of  the 
king  had  been  slow  and  occasional,  as  necessity  impelled,  and 
whatever  alterations  they  might  make  in  their  polity  from  rea- 


168  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

son  and  conviction,  of  their  own  motion,  they  were  not  easily 
led  to  adopt  the  same  when  required  by  a  sovereign,  to  whom 
they  held  themselves  subject  only  according  to  their  charter. 
There  were  different  opinions  in  regard  to  the  course,  which 
the  colony  ought  to  pursue,  and  from  this  period  we  may  date 
the  origin  of  two  parties,  the  patriots  and  prerogative  men, 
the  whigs  and  tories,  between  whom  controversy  scarcely  in- 
termitted, and  was  never  ended,  until  the  separation  of  the 
two  countries.* 

A  jealousy  concerning  their  political  rights  infused  itself 
into  the  people,  and  henceforward  we  discover  in  the  acts  of 
the  Bostonians  an  increased  sensibility  to  every  shadow  of 
encroachment  upon  their  liberties,  whatever  may  be  its  source. 
Thus  in  April,  1676,  in  conformity  to  custom,  the  town  chose 
by  ballot  Mr.  John  Hayward,  to  be  nominated  to  the  county 
court  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  writs.  For  reasons  not  as- 
signed on  the  town  records,  that  court  saw  fit  to  disregard  the 
nomination,  and  the  town  resented  the  affront  at  a  publick 
meeting,  on  the  25th  of  August  following. 

'  Then  was  presented  a  paper  to  the  inhabitants,  by  Rich- 
ard Knight,  in  the  name  of  himself  and  others  of  the  town,  to 
represent  their  dissatisfaction  and  grievance  for  a  breach  of 
their  liberties  and  privileges,  as  they  apprehend,  by  the  Hon'd. 
County  court's  putting  in  another  clerk  of  the  writs  than  what 
was  nominated  by  a  major  vote  of  the  inhabitants,  the  24th  of 
April,  1676. 

The  question  being  put,  whether  the  motion  therein  should 
be  considered  at  this  time,  Resolved  in  the  affirmative. 

Secondly,  it  was  voted,  that  Mr.  Thomas  Deane  and  Mr. 
John  Fairweather  join  with  the  selectmen  to  represent  the 
dissatisfaction  and  grievance  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  hon'd. 
county  court,  and  humbly  desire  that  their  privileges  and  lib- 
erties, that  do  belong  to  the  town,  may  be  continued  and  enjoy- 
ed without  any  obstruction,  and  may  have  satisfaction  in  their 
present  complaint.' 

This  was  an  evil  of  trifling  moment,  when  compared  with 
the  troubles  that  awaited  them,  in  common  with  their  brethren 
of  all  New-England.  That  same  summer,  king  Charles  II. 
sent  over  to  the  colony,  as  bearer  of  despatches  '  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  magistrates  of  the  town  of  Boston,'  Edward  Ran- 
dolph, a  man  who  became  infamous  and  hated  by  the  people  as 
a  spy  upon  their  liberties  ;  whose  business  it  was,  they  said,  to 
go  up  and  down  seeking  to  devour  them.  The  court  complied 
with  the  principal  demands  of  the  king,  and  sent  agents  (Wm. 
Stoughton  and  Peter  Bulkley)  to  answer  the  complaints  against 
them.     Randolph  returned  upon  their  heels,  and  reported  that 

*  Minot,  Hist.  Mass.  i.  43—51. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON-.  169 

'  the  colony  refused  any  obedience  to  the  acts  for  regulating 
the  trade  of  the  plantations.' 

*  Several  laws  were  made  by  the  court,  while  the  agents 
were  in  England,  to  remove  some  of  the  exceptions  which 
were  taken,  and  the  king's  arms  were  ordered  to  be  carved  and 
put  up  in  the  court  [town]  house.  But  it  was  a  more  difficult 
thing  to  conform  to  the  acts  of  trade  :  they  acknowledge  in 
their  letter  to  their  agents  that  they  had  not  done  it.  They 
apprehended  them  to  be  an  invasion  of  the  rights,  liberties  and 
property  of  the  subjects  of  his  majesty,  they  not  being  repre- 
sented in  parliament ;  however,  they  had  made  provision  by  a 
law,that  the  acts  should  be  strictly  observed  from  time  to  time, 
although  it  greatly  discouraged  trade,  and  was  a  great  damage 
to  his  majesty's  plantation.'  Here  we  perceive  that  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts  avowed  the  principle,  that  taxation 
and  representation  ought  to  go  together,  a  hundred  years 
before  the  united  colonies  declared  that  they  should. 

Randolph  kept  a  continual  watch  upon  the  colonj*",  and 
went  divers  times  to  England  with  complaints,  and  returned 
with  fresh  orders  and  powers.  In  1678  he  came  over  with 
authority  from  the  commissioners  of  the  customs  as  an  inspec- 
tor, and  to  make  seizures  for  breaches  of  the  acts  of  trade  ; 
but  he  was  generally,  if  not  always,  condemned  in  costs.  In 
his  list  of  '  articles  of  high  misdemeanour  exhibited  against  a 
faction  of  the  general  court,'  besides  accusing  them  of  aiming 
at  independence,  he  alleges  that  in  opposition  to  him,  they  had 
'  confirmed  the  place  and  powers  of  the  collector  of  the  cus- 
toms and  imposts,  laid  upon  wines  and  strong  waters  imported 
into  their  colony,  set  up  by  a  law  made  in  their  colony  in 
1645  ;'  which  officer,  he  says,  had  been  chief  collector  of 
these  duties  above  a  year  before  his  own  office  was  ordered. 

Even  this  collector,  though  appointed  by  the  court,  it  seems 
met  with  some  refractory  spirits,  who  were  not  disposed  to 
submit  to  the  '  acts  of  trade.'  Town  Records,  1678,  Aug.  26, 
'  Mr.  Paul  Dudley,  collector  of  the  customs  in  this  port  of 
Bostone,  complaining  that  Robert  Orchard,  who  had  received 
several  goods  from  England,  had  neglected  to  make  any  entry, 
and  refused  to  produce  an  invoice  of  them,  the  said  Mr.  Dud- 
ley desired  the  assistance  of  the  selectmen  to  rate  the  said 
Orchard  for  the  said  goods,  according  to  their  best  discretion, 
as  the  law  directs.  And  the  said  collector  with  the  selectmen 
do,  according  to  the  law,  rate  the  said  Orchard  to  pay  to  the 
collector  £10  in  money,  for  the  custom  of  the  said  goods.' — ■ 
And  the  constable  thereupon  attached  19lbs.  of  beaver,  as 
security  for  the  same. 

Governour  Leverett,  who  had  been  annually  continued  in 
office,  from  the  time  of  his  being  first  chosen  in  1673,  died  on 
the  16th  of  March,   1679.     He  had  been  a  soldier  in  early 
22 


170  HISTORY   OF   BOSTOST. 

life,  and  distinguished  himself  in  several  actions  abroad.  Up- 
on his  return  he  was  chosen  a  deputy  to  the  general  court 
for  Boston  ;  in  1664  he  was  appointed  major-general,  and 
elected  assistant  in  1665:  he  succeeded  Mr.  Francis  Wil- 
loughby  in  the  deputy-governour's  office  in  1671,  and  held 
that  place  till  he  became  governour.  The  weighty  affairs  of 
the  war  and  of  the  agency  during  his  administration,  conduct- 
ed with  prudence  and  steadiness,  caused  him  to  be  greatly 
respected,  and  he  was  so  beloved  by  the  colony,  that  his  elec- 
tion was  never  contested,  and  he  descended  with  honour  to 
the  grave.  His  funeral  was  attended  with  great  solemnity  : 
a  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  [Samuel]  Nowel,  and  military 
honours  were  conferred  on  the  occasion.* 

The  agents  returned  in  1679.  In  1681,  Randolph  obtained 
a  commission  from  the  crown,  for  collector  and  surveyor  and 
searcher  of  the  customs,  in  New  England.  He  laid  his  com- 
mission before  the  general  court,  and  desired  he  might  be  aid- 
ed in  the  execution  of  his  office  with  their  countenance  and 
authority  :  but  no  notice  being  taken  of  his  application,  he  set 
up  his  advertisement  in  the  town-house,  to  acquaint  all  per- 
sons concerned,  that  an  office  was  erected,  and  they  must 
govern  themselves  accordingly.  This,  he  said,  was  taken 
down  by  the  marshal,  by  order  of  the  general  court,  or  some 
of  the  members.  He,  therefore,  demanded  a  final  resolution 
of  the  court,  whether  they  would  admit  his  commission  to  be 
in  force  or  not,  that  he  might  know  how  to  order  his  proceed- 
ings.    What  was  their  reply  to  Randolph  we  have  not  found  ; 


*  Order  of  march   at  the  funeral  of  Governor  Leverett,  who  died  16  March  1678,  and  was 
buried  the  first  day  of  the  next  year,  25  March,  1679. 

Mr.  John  Joyliffe  ) 

Mr.'  Wm6  T^lertC°mbe  (  t0  carry  each  a  Banner  Ro11  at  the  4  comers  of  the  Herse. 
Mr.  Rics.  Middlecot        J 

To  march  next  before  the  Herse  as  followeth. 

J  Mr.  Sam.  Shrimpton,  or  in  his  absence  Capt.  Clap  to  carry  the  helmet. 
\  Mr.  John  Fairweather  to  carry  the  Gorget. 

J  Mr.  E.  Hutchinson        Brest 
I  Mr.  Charles  Lidgett      Back 

5  Mr.  Samp.  Sheafe  one  tace 

\  Mr.  John  Pincheon        one  tace    Mr.  Dummer  in  case 

t  Capt.  Nicb.  Page  one  Gauntlet 

I  Capt.  Jona.  Curwin       one  Gauntlet 

<  Lieut.  Edw.  Willys       the  Target 
I  Capt.  Edw.  Tyng         the  Sword 


Mr.  Hez.  Usher  one  Spur 

Mr.  Peter  Sargeant        one  Spur 


Capt.  Wm.  Gerrish  to  lead  the  Horse  per  the  Rain  and  Return  Waite  (as  Groom)  per 
the  headstall. 

Mr.  Lynde      J 

Mr!  Rock      (  t0  carry  Banners  n"3"  with  *he  Banner  Roles  above. 
N.  Green       / 


HISTORY   OF  BOSTON.  171 

but  in  an  answer  to  the  king  we  find  them  declaring,  that  he 
4  was  acknowledged  collector,  and  his  commission  enrolled.' 

Charles  II.  remained  dissatisfied,  and  required  that  other 
agents  should  be  sent  over,  without  delay,  with  powers  to 
submit  to  such  regulations  of  government  as  his  Majesty  should 
think  fit.  Mr.  Joseph  Dudley,  a  son  of  the  first  deputy -gov- 
ernour,  and  Mr.John  Richards,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Boston, 
a  man  of  fair  character  and  one  of  the  assistants,  were  cho- 
sen, and  despatched  with  all  practicable  speed.  They  arrived 
at  London  on  the  latter  end  of  August,  1682,  and  Randolph 
was  not  long  after  them,  ready  to  disclose  every  thing  they 
might  wish  to  conceal.  They  found  '  his  majesty  greatly  pro- 
voked ;'  and  in  their  first  letters  to  the  general  court  repre- 
sented the  case  of  the  colony  as  desperate,  and  left  it  to  the 
court  to  determine,  whether  it  was  advisable  to  submit  to  his 
pleasure  or  to  suffer  a  quo  warranto  to  issue.  Upon  receipt  of 
these  advices  it  was  made  a  question,  not  in  the  court  only, 
but  amongst  all  the  inhabitants,  whether  to  surrender  or  not. 
On  the  whole,  the  agents  were  instructed  to  make  no  conces- 
sions of  any  privileges  conferred  upon  the  colony  by  the 
charter.  Upon  receiving  this  final  resolution  of  the  court, 
their  business  was  at  an  end  :  it  was  immediately  determined 
a  Q.  W.  should  go  forth,  the  agents  returned  to  Boston,  Oct. 
23,  1683,  and  Randolph  arrived  the  same  week  with  the  in- 
strument of  death. 

'  The  next  day  after  Randolph  arrived,  a  destructive  fire 
happened  in  the  richest  part  of  the  town.  Some  of  the  peo- 
ple in  their  rage  and  jealousy  supposed  it  to  have  been  kind- 
led by  his  procurement.  It  was  on  the  south  side  of  the 
dock's  mouth,  and  consumed  a  great  number  of  dwelling 
houses,  warehouses  and  vessels.' 

The  Bostoneers,  as  Randolph  called  them,  were  forward  to 
oppose  his  Majesty's  demand  :  this  is  the  record  : 

1684,  Jan.  21.  At  a  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  this  town 
upon  lawful  warning,  upon  reading  and  publishing  his  Majes- 
ty's declaration  dated  26  July,  1683,  relating  to  the  quo  war- 
ranto issued  out  against  the  charter  and  privileges  claimed  by 
the  governour  and  company  of  the  Mass.  Bay  in  N.  E.  It 
being  put  to  the  vote,  whether  the  freemen  were  minded,  that 
the  general  court  should  make  a  full  submission  and  entire 
resignation,  of  our  charter  and  privileges  therein  granted, 
to  his  majesty's  pleasure,  as  intimated  in  the  said  declaration 
now  read,  the  question  was  resolved  in  the  negative,   nemine 

CONTRADICENTE. 

It  is  impossible  to  pronounce  the  two  last  words  without 
perceiving  that  the  clerk  felt  himself  animated  with  the  assur- 
ance, that  he  was  recording  the  sentiments  of  the  whole  popu- 


172  HISTORY    OP   BOSTON. 

lation.*  Yet  the  proposition  divided  the  legislature.  The 
Governour  (Bradstreet)  and  the  major  part  of  the  assistants, 
says  Minot,  voted  not  to  contend  in  law,  but  to  submit  to  the 
pleasure  of  the  King;  but  the  representatives,  after  a  fort- 
night's consideration,  refused  to  give  this  vote  their  concur- 
rence ;  and  a  letter  of  attorney  was  sent  to  a  suitable  person 
to  appear  and  answer  in  behalf  of  the  Colony. 

'  It  seems  that  this  process  was  issued  from  the  Court  of 
King's  bench,  where  the  attorney  was  accordingly  authorised 
to  appear  ;  but  from  some  reason  or  other  proceedings  were 
not  further  prosecuted  there,  and  a  scire  facias  was  issued 
against  the  colony  from  the  Court  of  Chancery,  on  the  16th 
day  of  April,  and  was  not  received  until  the  return  day  had 
expired  ;  by  means  of  which,  judgment  was  given  against  the 
colony  on  the  18th  of  June,  1684,  subject  to  an  appearance 
and  defence  on  the  next  term,  without  their  being  heard,  or 
receiving  timely  notice  to  appear.  Thus  fell  the  good  old 
charter,  valuable  for  its  defects  so  happily  supplied,  as  well 
as  its  powers.  But  with  it  fell  not  the  habits  it  had  engender- 
ed, nor  the  principles  which  the  settlement  of  the  country 
had  inspired.' 

'  The  loss  of  the  charter  was  followed  within  a  few  months 
with  the  death  of  King  Charles  II.  (Feb.  6,  1685,)  which  oc- 
casioned such  a  crowd  of  business  at  home,  that  the  planta- 
tions were  neglected  for  some  time.  King  James  II.  was 
proclaimed  with  great  ceremony  in  the  high  street  in  Boston, 
on  the  20th  of  April.  As  soon  as  he  was  settled  in  his  throne, 
he  sent  over  a  commission  to  Col.  Joseph  Dudley,  to  take  the 
government  of  New-England  upon  him,under  the  title  of  Pres- 
ident, and  appointed  him  a  new  council,  of  his  majesty's  own 
nomination,  with  Wm.  Stoughton  as  deputy  president.  Mr. 
D.  received  it  (by  the  Rose  frigate,  the  first  we  have  noticed 
as  arriving  in  Boston  harbour)  on  the  15th  of  May,  1686,  and 
it  was  made  publick  on  the  25th,  when  the  president  and 
council  met  in  form.f 

'  Mr.  Dudley  considered  himself  and  the  council  appointed 
to  preserve  the  affairs  of  the  colony  from  confusion,  until  a 
governour  should  be  appointed,  and  a  rule  of  administration 
be  more  fully  settled.  Hutchinson  says,  that  '  in  general  the 
former  laws  and  established  customs,  so  far  as  related  to 
judicial  proceedings,  seem  to  have  been  their  rule,  although 
the  government   which  framed   them   was   dissolved.     The 


*  See  Remarkables  of  Increase  Mather,  who  attended  the  meeting  and  made  a  spirit-stir- 
ring speech  on  the  subject. 

t  Neal,  N.  E.  ch.  x.  Hutch,  nist.  1.  ch.  iii.  The  old  magistrates  had  continued  to  exer- 
cise authority,  as  a  thing  of  necessity,  until  May  12,  1686,  the  date  of  the  last  old  charter 
record,  when  Mr.  Bradstreet  was  chosen  Governour. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  173 

affairs  of  the  towns  were  likewise  managed  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  formerly.' 

The  power  of  granting  taxes  being  transferred  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  council,  it  was  necessary  for  the  town  of  Boston  to 
make  application  for  liberty  to  assess  and  collect  their  usual 
rates.  The  following  articles,  from  the  town  records,  are  the 
more  interesting  from  the  consideration  that  Randolph 
thought  to  have  destroyed  the  publick  records  from  1686  to 
1689.     The  town  record  next  after  May  14,1686, reads  thus  : 

'Upon  the  constables'  delaying  or  neglect  to  collect  the 
rate  for  the  alms-house  or  work-house,  within  mentioned,  the 
President  and  council  were  pleased  to  endorse  the  warrant 
following  upon  each  constable's  list. 

By  the  President  and  Council. 
The  order  and  agreement  of  the  town  of  Boston  relating  to 
the  alms  or  work  house  having  been  considered,  the  rate  in 
this  paper  is  allowed,  and  to  be  paid  as  formerly  ordered  by 
the  Committee  and  Selectmen,  reserving  liberty  to  complain 
as  formerly,  to  such  as  are  oppressed  or  aggrieved  :  and 
where  any  have  subscribed  or  made  promise  and  refuse  pay- 
ment, the  treasurer  or  his  attorney  hath  power  to  recover  the 
same  by  action  before  any  two  justices  of  the  peace,  if  the 
subscriptions  exceed  not  40s.  or  otherwise  by  the  county  court. 

per  Edward  Randolph,  Sec'y. 

By  the  President  and  Council,  June  2,  1686. 
In  answer  to  the  motion  of  the  selectmen  of  Boston  showing 
that  their  town  treasury  is  so  exhausted  that  they  stand  in 
need  of  a  present  supply,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor, 
mending  the  highways,  finishing  the  alms  house,  and  other 
necessary  town  occasions,  which  have  been  formerly  and  par- 
ticularly referred  to  their  care  and  management,  the  Pres't 
and  council  for  the  present  exigency,  and  having  seen  the 
town's  votes  allowing  the  said  selectmen's  power,  accordingly 
do  approve  the  same,  and  order  them  to  give  notice  of  the 
sum  necessary  and  to  proceed  in  due  and  equal  manner  to 
levy  the  same   upon  the   inhabitants  and  estates  of  the  town. 


^lAfr^Mpk 


Sec. 


Copy  of  a  return  to  the  Council,  June  7th. 
Whereas  the  President  and  council,  June  2,  1686,  in  answer 
to  the  motion  of  the  Selectmen  of  Boston  for  the  supply  of 
money  to  maintain  the  poor,  mending  of  the  highways,  and 
other  necessary  town's  occasions,  ordering  to  give  notice  of 
the  sum  to  defray  the  charge,  it  is  found  according  to  former 


174  HISTORY   OF  BOSTON. 

experience,  that  rating  the  town  about  £600,  rate  pay,  being 
customary  to  abate  one  third  part  if  paid  in  money,  which 
brings  it  to  £400,  and  abatements  for  such  as  have  been 
rated  and  found  not  able  to  pay,  and  for  such  as  have  died, 
and  such  as  have  gone  to  sea,  removed  to  other  places,  before 
they  have  been  paid,  and  such  as  have  been  abated  on  com- 
plaint of  being  overrated,  commonly  brings  it  to  £340  or  £350. 
And  the  standing  charge  of  this  town  at  this  time  is  about 
£400  per  ann.  and  about  200  of  which  is  in  maintaining 
three  free  schools,  mending  the  highways  in  Boston,  Romney 
Marsh  and  Muddy  river,  the  rest  to  several  that  have  standing 
salary  for  service  in  the  town,  and  to  poor  people,  that  are 
not  likely  to  get  their  livings  as  long  as  they  do  live,  besides 
clothing  and  burying  the  poor,  and  giving  to  people's  necessi- 
ties transiently,  repairing  the  town-house  and  school-houses, 
maintaining  bastards  and  poor  people  when  they  are  sick 
and  nurses  for  them,  and  powder  for  the  town's  occasions, 
paying  heuse  rent  for  it,  and  blowing  up  of  houses,  and  finding 
powder  for  the  town  as  the  law  requires. 

Subscribed  per  Edward  Willis,  treasurer. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


Thy  sons,  Edina,  social,  kind, 
With  open  arms  the  stranger  hail, 

Gay  as  the  gilded  summer  sky, 
Thy  daughters  bright  thy  walks  adorn. 

Address  to  Edinburgh. 

From  this  review  of  the  course  of  publick  affairs  we  turn 
now  to  exhibit  to  our  readers  a  picture  of  private  society  and 
manners  in  the  same  period  :  and  we  shall  do  it  in  the  words 
of  the  facetious  John  Dunton,  who  visited  Boston  in  1686,  and 
published  an  account  of  his  life  and  errours  in  1705. 

'  We  weighed  out  of  the  Downs,  Nov.  2,  1685  ;  and  made 
the  best  of  our  way  for  the  Beachy. — We  were  above  four 
months  at  sea,  and  at  last  reduced  to  that  extremity  that  each 
of  us  had  no  more  than  the  allowance  of  one  bottle  of  water 
for  four  days.  When  we  came  within  ken  of  Boston,  we 
were  all  overjoyed,  being  just  upon  the  point  of  starving  ;  we 
put  off  to  land  in  the  long  boat  and  came  ashore  near  the 
Castle,  which  stands  about  a  mile  from  Boston.  The  country 
appeared  at  first  like  a  barren  waste,  but  we  found  humanity 
enough  when  we  came  amongst  the  inhabitants.     We  lodged 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  175 

the  first  night  at  the  Castle,  and  next  morning  we  found  the 
way  to  Boston  lay  over  the  ice,  which  was  but  cold  comfort, 
after  we  had  been  stowed  up  so  many  months  in  a  cabin. 
The  air  of  New  England  was  sharper  than  at  London,  which, 
with  the  temptation  of  fresh  provisions,  made  me  eat  like 
a  second  Mariot  of  Gray's  Inn.  The  first  person  that  welcom- 
ed me  to  Boston  was  Mr.  Burroughs,  formerly  a  hearer  of 
my  reverend  father-in-law,  Dr.  Annesly.  He  heaped  more 
civilities  upon  me  than  I  can  reckon  up,  offered  to  lend  me 
monies,  and  made  me  his  bedfellow,  till  I  had  provided 
lodgings. 

As  1  was  rambling  through  Boston,  I  met  both  with  lodg- 
ings, and  a  warehouse  at  Mr.  Wilkin's,  whose  family  deserves 
as  well  of  me,  as  any  in  New  England.  Being  thus  fixed,  I 
delivered  the  letters  of  recommendation  I  had  brought  with 
me  from  England.  I  had  one  from  the  Reverend  Mr.  Richard 
Stretton,  to  Mr.  Stoughton,  the  deputy  governour:  and  Mr. 
Morton  of  Newington-Green,  sent  another  to  major  Dudley, 
afterwards  president,  which,  with  other  letters  to  the  magis- 
trates, had  the  good  effect  that  I  was  made  freeman  of  Boston, 
though  very  much  obliged  for  it  to  the  friendship  of  Mr. 
Burroughs.  Immediately  upon  this,  captain  Hutchinson 
gave  me  an  invitation  to  dine  with  the  governour  and  the  mag- 
istrates in  the  town  hall.  The  entertainment  was  very  rich 
and  noble,  and  the  governour,  deputy-governour,  major  Dud- 
ley, and  the  other  magistrates  gave  me  a  very  friendly  wel- 
come to  Boston,  and  kindly  wished  me  success  in  my  under- 
taking. ' 

He  that  trades  with  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  should  be 
well  furnished  with  a  Grecian  faith  :  he  may  get  promises 
enough,  but  their  payments  come  late.  However,  under  all 
the  disadvantages  of  that  kind,  1  was  now  resolved  to  run  the 
risk  of  it,  and  in  order  to  promote  the  sale,  I  made  a  visit  to 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Increase  Mather,  the  metropolitan  clergy- 
man of  that  country,  and  rector  of  Harvard  College.  He  is 
master  of  a  great  stock  of  learning,  and  a  very  eminent  divine. 
His  son,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Cotton  Mather,  was  then  upon 
finishing  his  Magnalia  Christi  Americana,  which  has  lately 
been  published  here  in  England.  There  is  abundance  of 
freedom  and  familiarity  in  the  humour  of  this  gentleman  ; 
his  conversation  and  his  writings  are  living  evidences  that  he 
has  read  much,  but  there  are  many  that  won't  allow  him  the 
prudence  to  make  a  seasonable  use  of  it.  His  library  is  very 
large  and  numerous,  but  had  his  books  been  fewer  when  he 
writ  his  history,  'twould  have  pleased  us  better. 

I  was  next  to  wait  upon  the  Reverend  Mr.  Willard,  minis- 
ter of  the  South-Meeting  in  Boston  ;  he  is  well  furnished  with 
learning  and  solid  notion,  has  a  natural  fluency  of  speech, 


176  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

and  can  say  what  he  pleases.  Afterwards  I  went  to  visit  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Allen,  he  is  very  humble  and  very  rich,  and 
can  be  generous  enough,  when  the  humour  is  upon  him.  His 
son  was  an  eminent  minister  here  in  England,  and  deceased 
at  Northampton.  Mr.  [Joshua]  Moody  was  assistant  to  Mr. 
Allen,  and  well  known  by  his  practical  writings.  Leaving 
Mr.  Allen's  house,  I  went  next  to  Mr.  John  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Baily.  These  two  are  popular  preachers,  and  very  generous 
to  strangers ;  I  heard  Mr.  John  upon  these  words, — Looking 
unto  Jesus,  aud  I  thought  he  spake  like  an  angel.  They  ex- 
press a  more  than  ordinary  kindness  to  Mr.  Wilkins,  my  land- 
lord, and  (being  persecuted  in  Limerick  for  their  noncon- 
formity) came  over  with  him  from  Ireland.  Reader,  I  might 
be  large  in  their  character  ;  but  when  I  tell  you  they  are  true 
pictures  of  Dr.  Annesly  (whom  they  count  as  a  second  St. 
Paul)  'tis  as  high  as  I  need  go. 

The  sun  being  now  gone  to  bed  (for  though  I  was  up  before 
him,  he  got  to  his  lodging  first)  I  bid  good  night  to  these  two 
brothers,  who  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome  to  Boston,  and  as- 
sured me  of  all  the  service  that  lay  in  their  power. 

Having  first  paid  my  visits  to  the  clergy  of  Boston,  and 
given  a  character  of  them,  pray  give  me  leave  to  ask  my 
brethren  the  booksellers  how  they  do,  and  that  shall  be  all. 
For  though  I  know  they  love  to  be  respected,  yet  at  the  same 
time  I  am  satisfied,  that  I'm  as  welcome  to  them  as  sour  ale 
in  summer,  for  they  look  upon  my  gain  to  be  their  loss,  and  do 
make  good  the  truth  of  that  old  proverb,  that  interest  will  not 
lie  ;  but  I  must  begin  my  addresses  to  them. 

Mr.  [John]  Usher,  your  humble  servant.  This  trader 
makes  the  best  figure  in  Boston  ;  he  is  very  rich,  adventures 
much  to  sea  ;  but  has  got  his  estate  by  book-selling  ;  he  pro- 
posed to  me  the  buying  my  whole  venture,  but  would  not 
agree  to  my  terms,  and  so  we  parted  with  a  great  deal  of 
seeming  respect. 

Mr.  Phillips,  my  old  correspondent  ! — 'Tis  reason  I  should 
make  you  the  next  visit.  He  treated  me  with  a  noble  dinner, 
and  (if  I  may  trust  my  eyes)  is  blest  with  a  pretty  obliging 
wife  ;  I'll  say  that  for  Sam  (after  dealing  with  him  for  some 
hundred  pounds)  he  is  very  just,  and  (as  an  effect  of  that) 
very  thriving.  I  shall  add  to  his  character,  that  he  is  young 
and    witty,  and  the  most  beautiful  man  in  the  town  of  Boston. 

But  leaving  Phillips,  I  rambled  next  to  visit  Minheer  Brun- 
ning,  he  is  a  Dutch  bookseller  from  Holland,  scrupulously 
just,  plain  in  his  clothes,  and  if  we  will  believe  the  printers  in 
Boston  (who  are  notable  criticks  in  such  cases)  a  most  excel- 
lent paymaster.  Brunning  is  versed  in  the  knowledge  of  all 
sorts  of  books,  and  may  well  be  styled  a  complete  bookseller. 
He  never  decries  a  book,  because  'tis  not  of  his  own  printing; 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTON.  177 

there  are  some  men  that  will  run  down  the  most  elaborate 
pieces,  only  because  they  had  none  of  their  midwifery  to 
bring  them  into  publick  view,  and  yet  shall  give  the  greatest 
encomium  to  the  most  nauseous  trash,  when  they  had  the  hap 
to  be  concerned  in  it.  But  Brunning  was  none  of  these  ;  for 
he  would  promote  a  good  book  whoever  printed  it  ;  and  I 
found  him  a  man  of  that  great  interest,  that  I  made  him  my 
partner  in  printing  Mr.  Mather's  sermon,  preached  at  the  ex- 
ecution of  Morgan,  who  was  the  only  person  executed  in  that 
country  for  near  seven  years.  From  the  Dutch,  I  went  to 
the  Scotch  bookseller,  one  Duncan  Cambel,  he  is  very  indus- 
trious, dresses  all-a-mode,  and  I  am  told,  a  young  lady  of 
a  great  fortune  is  fallen  in  love  with  him. 

Having  visited  all  the  booksellers,  I  will  next  give  an  ac- 
count of  what  acquaintance  I  had  in  Boston.  I  shall  begin 
with  Mr.  Willy,  who  fled  thither  on  the  account  of  conscience, 
(and  is  brother-in-law  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Baily)  he  is  a 
man  of  a  large  heart,  one  who,  in  relieving  others'  wants,  con- 
siders not  so  much  his  own  ability,  as  their  necessity.  This 
Monmouth's  forlorn  fugitives  experienced  often,  to  whom  he 
was  the  common  refuge.  The  next  I  shall  mention  is  Mr. 
White,  a  merchant,  who  by  trading  has  clasped  islands  to  the 
continent,  and  tacked  one  country  to  another  ;  his  knowl- 
edge, both  of  men  and  things,  is  universal. The  next  was 

Mr.  Green,  a  printer  ;  I  contracted  a  great  friendship  with 
this  man  ;  to  name  his  trade,  will  convince  the  world  he  was 
a  man  of  good  sense  and  understanding;  he  was  so  facetious 
and  obliging  in  his  conversation,  that  I  took  a  great  delight  in 
his  company,  and  made  use  of  his  house  to  while  away  my 
melancholy  hours.  Another  of  my  acquaintance  was  Cap- 
tain Gery  [Gerrish?]  a  man  as  eminent  for  his  love  to  his 
country,  as  Junius  Brutus  and  the  famous  Scasvola  among  the 

Romans. Another  of  'em  was  George  Monk,    a  person  so 

remarkable,  that  had  I  not  been  acquainted  with  him,  it  would 
be  a  hard  matter  to  make  any  New  England  man  believe  that 
I  had  been  in  Boston ;  there  was  no  house  in  Boston  more 
noted  than  George  Monk's,  or  where  a  man  might  meet  with 
better  entertainment ;  he  was  so  much  the  life  and  spirit  of 
the  guests  that  came  to  his  house,  that  it  was  almost  impossi- 
ble not  to  be  cheerful  in  his  company.  Another  was  captain 
Townsend,  a  gentleman  very  courteous  and  affable  in  his  con- 
versation. 

I  might  here  ramble  to  Mr.  Jollyff,  justice  Lines,  Macarty, 
and  some  others;  but  least  I  tire  you  quite,  I  will  next  come 
to  a  distinct  head,  which  shall  be  those  of  my  countrymen 
that  have  rambled  into  this  country  as  well  as  myself,  such  of 
them,  I  mean,  as  I  came  acquainted  with  in  the  course  of  my 
business :  and  these  were,  first,  Mr.  Mortimer,  who  came  from, 
23 


178  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Ireland  ;  he  was  an  accomplished  merchant,  a  person  of 
great  modesty,  and  could  answer  the  most  abstruse  points  in 
algebra,  navigation,  dialling,  &c. 

The  next  to  these  was  Mr.  King:  love  was  the  cause  of  this 
gentleman's  long  ramble  hither ;  sure  his  mistress  was  made 
of  stone,  for  King  had  a  voice  would  have  charmed  the 
spheres,  he  sang,  All  Hail  to  the  Myrtle  Shades,  with  a  match- 
less grace,  and  might  be  called  an  accomplished  person. 

Another  acquaintance  was  Mr.  York,  he  had  his  soft  min- 
utes as  well  as  other  men,  and  when  he  unbent  the  bow,  for 
he  was  very  industrious,  he  treated  the  fair  sex  with  so  much 
courtship  and  address,  as  if  loving  had  been  all  his  trade. 

The  next  I  mention  shall  be  Andrew  Thorncomb,  bookseller 
from  London  ;  his  company  was  coveted  by  the  best  gentle- 
men in  Boston,  nor  is  he  less  acceptable  to  the  fair  sex  ;  for 
he  has  something  in  him  so  extremely  charming,  as  makes 
them  very  fond  of  his  company.  However,  he  is  a  virtuous 
person,  and  deserves  all  the  respect  they  showed  him.  He 
visited  me  often  in  Boston,  and  1  here  declare  I've  a  particular 
kindness  for  him. 

Another  acquaintance  was  Mr.  Heath  ;  were  I  to  write  the 
character  of  a  pious  merchant,  I  would  as  soon  take  Heath 
for  the  exemplar,  as  any  man  I  know.  There  are  two  things 
remarkable  in  him,  one  is,  that  he  never  warrants  any  ware 
for  good,  but  what  is  so  indeed  ;  and  the  other,  that  he  makes 
no  advantage  of  his  chapman's  ignorance,  where  the  con- 
science of  the  seller  is  all  the  skill  of  the  buyer;  he  doth  not 
then  so  much  ask  as  order  what  he  must  pay  ;  and  in  such 
cases  he  ought  to  be  very  scrupulous.  Bishop  Latimer  being 
told  he  was  cozened  in  buying  a  knife,  no.  replied  Latimer, 
he  cozened  not  me,  but  his  own  conscience.  This  person 
was  my  daily  visitor,  and  brought  me  acquainted  with  one 
Gore,  of  New  York,  with  whom  I  traded  considerably. 

Mr.  Watson  shall  be  the  next;  formerly  a  merchant  in 
London,  but  not  thriving  there,  he  left  the  exchange  for 
Westminster  Hall,  and  in  Boston  has  become  as  dexterous  at 
splitting  of  causes,  as  if  he  had  been  bred  to  it.  He  is  full  of 
fancy  and  knows  the  quirks  of  the  law  ;  but  to  do  him  justice, 
he  proves  as  honest  as  the  best  lawyer  of  'em  all. 

Another  acquaintance  is  Mr.  Mason.  He  was  a  blunt, 
honest  Christian ;  he  will  speak  his  mind,  take  it  how  you 
please. 

The  next  I'll  mention  shall  be  Mr.  Malinson,  he  is  a  stiff 
Independent,  (which  is  rare  in  a  fencer,)  and  so  great  a  crit- 
ick,  that  he  would  even  find  a  knot  in  a  bullrush.  Malinson 
was  one  of  those  unfortunate  gentlemen  that  engaged  with 
Monmouth,  and  I'm  told  this  day  at  the  Royal  Exchange, 
he  now  teaches  young  gentlemen  to  fence  in  Boston. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  179 

I  was  so  happy  as  to  find  particular  friends  in  Boston, 
whose  characters  1  shall  next  give  you,  and  I'll  begin  with 
-  Dr.  Oakes. — He  is  an  eminent  physician,  and  a  religious 
man  ;  at  his  first  coming  to  a  patient  he  persuades  him  to  put 
his  trust  in  God,  the  fountain  of  health ;  the  want  of  this  hath 
caused  the  bad  success  of  most  physicians,  for  they  that 
won't  acknowledge  God  in  all  their  applications,  God  won't 
acknowledge  them  in  that  success  which  they  might  other- 
wise expect.  He  was  a  great  dissenter  whilst  he  lived  in 
London,  and  even  in  New  England  retains  the  piety  of  the 
first  planters;  I  was  recommended  to  him  by  Mr.  Gilson,  as 
also  by  a  relation  of  his  in  Ratcliff,  and  I  must  own,  the  doc- 
tor gave  me  a  generous  welcome  to  Boston. — From  Dr. 
Oakes  I  pass  to  my  good  friend  Dr.  Bullivant,  formerly  my 
fellow  citizen  in  London  ;  I  must  consider  him  both  as  a  gen- 
tleman and  a  physician.  As  a  gentleman,  he  came  of  a  no- 
ble family,  but  his  good  qualities  exceeded  his  birth  ;  he  is  a 
great  master  of  the  English  tongue,  and  the  Northampton  peo- 
ple find  him  a  universal  scholar  ;  his  knowledge  of  the  laws 
fitted  him  for  the  office  of  attorney  general,  which  was  confer- 
red upon  him  on  the  revolution  in  Boston  ;  it  is  true  he  sought 
it  not,  but  New  England  knew  his  worth,  and  even  forced 
him  to  accept  of  it. 

While  he  held  this  place  of  attorney  general,  he  was  so  far 
from  pushing  things  to  that  extremity  as  some  hot  spirits 
would  have  had  him,  that  he  was  for  accommodating  things, 
and  making  peace.  His  eloquence  is  admirable,  he  never 
speaks  but  'tis  a  sentence,  and  no  man  ever  clothed  his  thoughts 
in  better  words. 

I  shall  next  consider  him  as  a  physician,  his  skill  in  phar- 
macy was  such  as  had  no  equal  in  Boston,  nor  perhaps 
Northampton  ;  he  is  as  intimate  with  Galen  and  Hippocrates, 
at  least  with  their  works,  as  ever  I  was  with  Iris.  He  is  so 
conversant  with  the  great  variety  of  nature,  that  not  a  drug 
or  simple  escapes  his  knowledge,  so  that  he  never  practises 
new  experiments  upon  his  patients,  except  it  be  in  desperate 
cases,  where  death  must  be  expelled  by  death.  This  also  is 
praiseworthy  in  him,  that  to  the  poor,  he  always  prescribes 
cheap,  but  wholesome  medicines,  not  curing  them  of  a  con- 
sumption in  their  bodies,  and  sending  it  into  their  purses,  nor 
yet  directing  them  to  the  East  Indies  to  look  for  drugs,  when 
they  may  have  far  better  out  of  their  gardens. 

I  proceed  in  the  next  place  to  Mr.  Gouge,  a  linen  draper 
from  London,  son  to  the  charitable  divine  of  that  name.  He 
is  owner  of  a  deal  of  wit,  his  brain  is  a  quiver  of  smart  jests. 
He  pretends  to  live  a  bachelor,  but  is  no  enemy  to  a  pretty 
woman.  He's  high  church,  yet  so  great  a  lover  of  his 
father's  "  christian  directions,"  that  he  bought  two   hundred 


180  HISTORY   OF  BOSTON. 

of  me  to  give  away,  that  so  he  might,  as  he  used  to  say,  make 
the  Bostonians  godly.  And  this  was  a  noted  quality  in  him, 
that  he  would  always  tell  the  truth  ;  which  is  a  practice  so 
uncommon  in  New  England,  that  I  could  not  but  value  his 
friendship. 

But  1  must  not  forget  Mr.  Tryon.  Mr.  Tryon  is  a  man  of 
a  sweet  temper,  an  excellent  husband,  and  very  sincere  in 
his  dealings.  The  next  I  shall  mention  is  Mr.  Barnes,  he  was 
clerk  to  the  government,  a  matchless  accomptant,  a  great  mu- 
sician, bookish  to  a  proverb,  very  generous  to  strangers,  and 
at  our  first  interview,  declared  a  particular  friendship  to  me. 

To  return  to  my  own  affairs,  the  booksellers  in  Boston  per- 
ceived 1  was  very  diligent  to  bring  custom  to  my  warehouse, 
and  thereupon  began  to  make  terms  with  me  for  my  whole 
venture,  but  that  would  not  do  for  me,  because  there's  the 
loss  of  thirty  per  cent,  in  the  return  of  their  money.  The 
books  I  had  with  me  were  most  of  'em  practical,  and  well 
suited  to  the  genius  of  New  England,  so  that,  my  warehouse 
being  opened,  they  began  to  move  apace.  Palmer,  my  ap- 
prentice, was  very  honest  and  diligent,  took  the  whole  charge 
of  my  business  off  my  hands,  and  left  me  to  ramble  and  di- 
vert myself  as  my  fancy  would  suggest. 

But  I  must  make  a  transition  to  arms.  It  is  their  custom 
here  for  all  that  can  bear  arms,  to  go  out  on  a  training  day  ; 
but  I  thought  a  pike  was  best  for  a  young  soldier,  and  so  I 
carried  a  pike.  And  between  you  and  I,  reader,  there  was 
another  reason  for  it  too,  and  that  was,  I  knew  not  how  to  shoot 
off  a  musquet,  but  'twas  the  first  time  I  ever  was  in  arms. 
Being  come  into  the  field,  the  captain  called  us  all  into  our 
close  order,  in  order  to  go  to  prayer,  and  then  prayed  him- 
self. And  when  our  exercise  was  done,  the  captain  likewise 
concluded  with  prayer.  I  have  read  that  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
the  warlike  king  of  Sweden,  would  before  the  beginning  of  a 
battle  kneel  down  devoutly,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and 
pray  to  God,  the  giver  of  victory,  to  give  them  success  against 
their  enemies,  which  commonly  was  the  event  ;  and  that  he 
was  as  careful  also  to  return  thanks  to  God  for  the  victory. 
But  solemn  prayer  in  the  field  upon  a  day  of  training,  I  never 
knew  but  in  New  England,  where  it  seems  it  is  a  common  cus- 
tom. About  three  of  the  clock,  both  our  exercise  and  pray- 
ers being  over,  we  had  a  very  noble  dinner,  to  which  all  the 
clergy  were  invited. 

Summer  was  now  well  advanced,  however  my  time  did  not 
lie  much  upon  my  hands,  for  upon  my  return  from  Roxbury, 
I  found  several  of  my  friends  making  ready  for  a  journey  to 
Natick.  Every  summer  there's  an  Indian  lecture  preached 
there,  which  has  been  kept  on  foot  ever  since  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Elliot  gathered  a  church  there  of  the  converted  natives.     I 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  181 

was  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  acquaint  myself  with  the  man- 
ners, religion,  and  government  of  the  Indians.  When  we 
were  setting  forward,  I  was  forced,  out  of  civility  and  grati- 
tude, to  take  madam  Brick  behind  me  on  horseback  ;  it  is  true, 
she  was  the  flower  of  Boston,  but  in  this  case  proved  no  more 
than  a  beautiful  sort  of  luggage  to  me.  We  had  about  twen- 
ty miles  to  Natick,  where  the  best  accommodations  we  could 
meet  with,  were  very  coarse.  We  ty'd  up  our  horses  in  two 
old  barns,  that  were  almost  laid  in  ruines,  however  we  cou'd 
discern  where  they  had  stood  formerly.  But  there  was  no 
place  where  we  cou'd  bestow  ourselves,  unless,  upon  the 
greenswerd,  till  the  lecture  began. 

The  wigwams,  or  Indian  houses,  are  no  more  than  so  many 
tents,  and  their  way  of  building  'em  is  this  ;  they  first  take 
long  poles,  and  make  'em  fast  in  the  ground,  and  then  cover 
them  with  mats  on  the  outside,  which  they  tye  to  the  poles. 
Their  fire-place  is  made  in  the  middle,  and  they  leave  a  little 
hole  upon  the  top  uncover'd  with  the  mats,  which  serves  for  a 
chimney.  Their  doors  are  usually  two,  and  made  opposite  to 
each  other,  which  they  open  or  shut  according  as  the  wind 
sits,  and  these  are  either  made  of  mats,  or  of  the  barks  of 
trees. 

While  we  were  making  such  discoveries  as  these,  we  were 
informed  that  the  saehim,  or  the  Indian  king,  and  his  queen, 
were  there.  The  place,  'tis  true,  did  not  look  like  the  royal 
residence,  however  we  cou'd  easily  believe  the  report,  and 
went  immediately  to  visit  their  king  and  queen  ;  and  here  my 
courage  did  not  fail,  for  I  stept  up  and  kissed  the  Indian 
queen ;  making  her  two  very  low  bows,  which  she  returned 
very  civilly.  The  saehim  was  very  tall  and  well  limbed,  but 
had  no  beard,  and  a  sort  of  a  horse  face.  The  queen  was 
well  shaped,  and  her  features  might  pass  pretty  well,  she  had 
eyes  as  black  as  jet,  and  teeth  as  white  as  ivory  ;  her  hair 
was  very  black  and  long,  and  she  was  considerably  up  in 
years  ;  her  dress  peculiar,  she  had  sleeves  of  moose-skin,  very 
finely  dressed,  and  drawn  with  lines  of  various  colours,  in  Asi- 
atick  work,  and  her  buskins  were  of  the  same  sort ;  her  man- 
tle was  of  fine  blue  cloth,  but  very  short,  and  tied  about  her 
shoulders,  and  at  the  middle  with  a  zone,  curiously  wrought 
with  white  and  blue  beads  into  pretty  figures;  her  bracelets 
and  necklace  were  of  the  same  sort  of  beads,  and  she  had  a 
little  tablet  upon  her  breast,  very  finely  decked  with  jewels 
and  precious  stones  ;  her  hair  was  combed  back  and  tied  up 
with  a  border  which  was  neatly  worked  both  with  gold  and 
silver. 

The  Natick  lecture  was  done  about  four  in  the  afternoon, 
and  we  had  twenty  miles  to  Boston,  so  that  we  were  obliged 
to  mount  immediately,  and  make  the  best  of  our  way.     Upon 


182  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

my  coming  to  Boston,  T  heard  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morton,  so 
much  celebrated  in  England  for  his  piety  and  learning,  was 
just  arrived  from  England,  and  with  him,  his  kinsman,  Dr. 
Morton,  the  physician.  Mr.  Morton  did  me  the  honour  to 
declare  he  was  very  glad  to  see  me  ;  and  I  am  sure  I  was 
glad  to  see  him  ;  not  only  as  he  brought  me  letters  from  Iris, 
but  for  his  own  personal  worth. 

In  the  same  ship  with  Mr.  Morton,  came  over  one  Mrs. 
Hicks,  with  the  valuable  venture  of  her  beautiful  person, 
which  went  off  at  an  extraordinary  rate ;  she  marrying  a 
merchant  in  Salem  worth  thirty  thousand  pounds. 

By  this  time  there  were  about  two  thirds  of  my  venture  of 
books  gone  off,  and  1  was  fearful  to  sell  any  more  at  Boston, 
till  the  old  scores  were  discharged  ;  for  besides  all  the  money 
I  had  taken,  there  was  about  four  hundred  pounds  owing  me 
in  Boston,  and  the  towns  adjacent,  at  my  return  from  Natick. 
It  began  to  run  in  my  head,  that  Mr.  Sewel,  one  of  the  magis- 
trates in  Salem,  had  invited  me  thither,  and  told  me,  if  I  sent 
part  of  my  venture  there,  he'd  do  me  all  the  service  that  was 
possible,  in  the  sale  of  them  ;  upon  these  thoughts,  I  made  a 
journey  to  Salem. 

Having  staid  some  little  time,  with  my  worthy  friend  Mr. 
Steward,  myself  and  Mrs.  Comfort  took  our  leaves,  and  made 
the  best  of  our  way  for  Boston  ;  where  we  arrived  to  the 
great  satisfaction  of  my  good  landlord  and  his  wife. 

I  had  now  no  more  business  in  New  England,  but  just  to 
pay  a  farewell  to  Mr.  Burroughs,  (that  was  so  kind  to  me  at 
my  first  landing)  and  to  shake  hands  with  Mr.  Wilkins  (my 
landlord)  his  wife,  and  daughter. 

And  here  I  shall  first  take  my  leave  of  Mr.  Francis  Bur- 
roughs, for  I  wanted  till  now,  an  opportunity  to  thank  him  for 
the  many  civilities  he  heaped  upon  me  in  Boston  ;  for  he  not 
only  lent  me  money  (the  true  tourh-stone  of  friendship)  but 
made  me  his  bed-fellow,  got  me  the  freedom  of  Boston,  and 
was  the  chief  person  I  advis'd  with  under  any  difficulty. 

"  His  person  is  handsome  (I  don't  know  whether  he  knows 
it  or  no)  and  his  mind  has  as  many  charms  ;  he's  a  man  of  re- 
markable chastity,  of  a  great  deal  of  wit,  and  his  repartees 
are  so  quaint,  apposite  and  genteel,  'tis  a  pleasure  to  observe 
how  handsomely  he  acquits  himself;  in  the  mean  time  he's  nei- 
ther scurrilous  nor  prophane,  but  a  scrupulous,  honest,  con- 
scientious man,  so  that  he's  what  we  may  call  a  religious  mer- 
chant, and  (I  was  going  to  say)  he  hates  vice  almost  as  much 
by  nature  as  grace."  And  this  I  think  is  his  true  character  ; 
but  I  must  remember  Captain  Leg  is  ready  to  sail,  and  I  have 
other  farewells  to  make,  and  so  worthy  friend  adieu. 

I  come  next  to  honest  Wilkins,  my  landlord,  for  I  should 
think  myself  very  unkind,  should  I  leave  Boston,  without 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  183 

shaking  hands  with  a  person  I  lived  with  near  eight  months. 
His  person  is  tall,  his  aspect  sweet  and  smiling,  and  (though 
but  fifty  years  old)  his  hair  as  white  as  snow.  He  was  form- 
erly a  bookseller  in  Limerick,  and  fled  hither  on  the  account 
of  conscience.  He  is  a  person  of  good  sense,  keeps  up  the 
practice  of  religion  in  his  family,  and  (upon  a  nice  search  in- 
to all  his  affairs)  I  found  it  had  a  general  influence  on  all  the 
actions  of  his  life  :  he  was  deservedly  chosen  a  member  of 
Mr.  Willard's  church,  and  I  do  think  he's  a  pious  man,  if 
there's  such  a  thing  in  Boston.  But  dear  sir,  adieu,  for  the 
wind  is  fair,  and  1  must  be  gone  ;  but  I  leave  your  company 
with  as  much  regret  as  ever  I  did  any  earthly  blessing. 

My  next  farewell  shall  be  to  Mrs.  Wilkins  my  obliging 
landlady. 

"  She's  a  tender  wife,  a  kind  mother,  and  is  a  woman  well 
poised  in  all  humours  ;  or,  in  other  words,  Mrs.  Wilkins  is  a 
person  of  an  even  temper,  which  rendered  her  conversation 
more  agreeable  than  those  that  laugh  more,  but  smile  less: 
some  there  are,  who  spend  more  spirits,  in  straining,  for  an 
hour's  mirth,  than  they  can  recover  in  a  month,  which  ren- 
ders them  so  unequal  company  ;  whilst  she  is  always  equal, 
and  the  same.  'Tis  virtue  to  know  her,  wisdom  to  converse 
with  her,  and  joy  to  behold  her  ;  or  (to  do  her  justice  in  few- 
er words)  she  is  the  counterpart  of  her  pious  husband,  who 
without  her,  is  but  half  himself."  I  might  inlarge,  but  I  fear 
if  I  write  on,  I  shall  lose  my  passage,  and  so  (kind  landlady) 
adieu. 

Having  taken  leave  of  the  father  and  mother,  my  last  visit 
must  be  to  the  daughter,  and  sheer  gratitude  obliges  to  this 
farewell  ;  for  you  Mrs.  Comfort  may  well  take  it  amiss,  if  I 
should  forget  your  favours  to  me  in  your  father's  house,  your 
pleasant  company  to  Ipswich,  your  assistance  when  I  was  ill, 
and  the  noble  looking-glass  you  sent  my  dear,  and  all  this 
with  a  world  of  innocence. 

When  the  ship  was  ready  to  sail,  I  was  attended  on  board 
by  Dr.  Bullevant,  Mr.  Wilkins,  Mr.  York,  Mr.  Gouge,  Mr. 
Heath,  Mr.  Tryon,  Mr.  Green,  and  some  other  of  my  Boston 
friends.  The  captain  entertain'd  them  with  wine,  beer,  cy- 
der, and  neats'  tongues. 

So  soon  as  ever  my  friends  were  gone  off  to  shore,  our  cap- 
tain ordered  all  his  guns  to  fire,  which  were  accompanied  with 
huzzas  and  shouts,  and  shaking  of  hats,  till  we  had  lost  all 
sight  of  our  friends. 

Kind  Boston  adieu,  part  we  must,  though  'tis  pity  ; 
But  I'm  made  for  mankind,  and  all  the  world  is  my  city. 
Look  how  on  the  shore,  they  whoop  and  they  hollow, 
Not  for  joy  I  am  gone,  but  for  grief  they  can't  follow. 


1  84  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

'*  And  now  the  trying  hour  came  on, 

That  each  must  act  a  gallant  part ; 

Fate  on  one  grand  manoeuvre  hung, 
One  mighty  stroke,  prompt,  dangerous,  and  bold." 

Mr.  Dudley's  presidentship  was  of  short  duration.  Sir 
Edmund  Andros,  who  had  formerly  been  governour  of  New 
York,  arrived  Dec.  19,  1686,  with  a  commission  from  king 
James  II.  dated  July  3d,  constituting  himself  governour  of  the 
whole  country,  and  empowering  him  with  four  of  his  council 
to  make  laws,  and  raise  money  without  a  general  assembly 
or  any  consent  of  the  people.  He  landed  at  Boston,  the  20th 
of  Dec.  and  his  commission  was  published  the  same  day.* 
The  beginning  of  his  administration  gave  great  encourage- 
ment, but  it  was  too  soon  evinced  that  his  disposition  and 
aims  were  tyrannical  :  many  of  his  council  deserted  their 
seats  ;  a  few  only  who  lived  in  or  near  Boston  attended  con- 
stantly, and  some  of  those  complained  that  he  had  always 
three  or  four  of  his  creatures,  ready  to  say  yes  or  no  to  every 
thing  he  proposed,  after  which  no  opposition  was  allowed.  It 
was  not  long  before  the  case  of  some,  who  apprehended  them- 
selves oppressed,  came  under  consideration,  and  one  of  the 
council  told  them,  '  they  must  not  think  the  privileges  of  En- 
glishmen would  follow  them  to  the  ends  of  the  world.'  It  was 
an  incautious  speech,  but  it  sounded  an  alarm  through  the 
country,  and  was  never  forgotten. 

The  Boston  records  present  the  following  communication, 
made  Feb.  25,  1687,  '  To  his  Excellency  the  Governour  and 
Council  of  H.  M.  territory  and  dominion  of  New  England.' 

'  The  humble  petition  of  the  selectmen  of  Boston  humblj- 
showeth,  that  forasmuch  as  this  town,  being  the  principal  seat 
of  trade  within  this  his  M.'s  territory,  the  growth  and  flour- 
ishing whereof  will  necessarily  influence  the  prosperity  and 
well-being  of  the  whole,  and  there  having  been  of  late  years 
considerable  visible  decays  in  the  estates  thereof,  through  the 
adversity  of  the  Indian  war,  desolation  by  fire,  and  the  failing 
of  trade,  which  have  greatly  impoverished  the  town,  so  that 
the  number  of  the  poor  is  much  increased,  and  notwithstand- 


*  He  was  accompanied  by  60  red  coats,  whom  he  landed  at   Pool's  wharf  (now  Central 
street),  and  marched  to  Mr.  Gibbs'  house  on  Fort-hill.    Holmes.  Mass.  II.  C.  2.  ii.  261. 
Aug.  31,1687.  An  official  return  gave  1447  male  persons  above  16  years  of  age. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  185 

ing  some  former  essays,  as  yet  no  effectual  remedy  is  provided 
for  easing  the  charge  of  the  town,  by  setting  them  to  work  ; 
there  being  also  several  common  nuisances,  in  said  town,  very 
offensive  and  prejudicial  to  the  inhabitants,  and  occasion  of 
charge  to  the  town  ;  we  therefore  pray,  that  your  Ex.  and 
council  will  please  to  order  and  appoint  a  committee  of  some 
of  the  members  of  your  council,  who  are  best  acquainted  with 
the  state  and  condition  of  the  town,  unto  whom  we  may  rep- 
resent what  we  conceive  to  be  necessary  for  the  well  order- 
ing and  regulating  of  the  affairs  of  this  populous  town,  respect- 
ing the  poor,  idle,  and  disorderly  persons,  with  what  else  we 
may  propose  as  conducible  to  the  good  and  welfare  of  the 
place,  that  so  what  we  shall  offer  therein  may  be  stated  and 
prepared  to  be  laid  before  your  Ex.  and  Council  for  consid- 
eration and  approbation,  as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall  judge 
fit.     And  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray.' 

The  people  endured  insolence  and  privations  of  various 
kind  and  degree  under  the  new  government,  yet  it  is  observ- 
ed, that  they  were,  in  general,  patient.*  Opportunely  for 
them,  a  revolution  was  about  taking  place  in  England,  which 
was  to  furnish  them  with  a  plausible  pretext  for  the  overthrow 
of  their  oppressors.  James  second  was  a  devoted  papist,  and 
aimed  to  restore  the  catholicks  to  power  :  the  nation  was 
not  prepared  to  submit  to  such  a  change.  James  had  three 
children,  one  of  which,  Mary,  was  married  to  William,  prince 
of  Orange.  William  aimed  at  the  throne  of  England,  and, 
taking  advantage  of  the  discontent  of  the  people,  he  landed 
with  an  army,  Nov.  15,  1688,  and  expelled  James  from  the 
kingdom. 

An  account  of  this  event  reached  Boston    in    April,  1689. 

Mr. Winslow,  who   brought   a    printed  copy  of    the 

Prince  of  Orange's  declaration,  was  imprisoned  on  the  charge 
of  bringing  a  '  traitorous  and  treasonable  libel  into  the  coun- 
try.' He  offered  j£2000  bail,  but  it  could  not  be  accepted. 
A  proclamation  was  issued  by  Sir  Edmund,  charging  all  offi- 
cers and  people  to  be  in  readiness  to  hinder  the  landing  of 
any  forces,  which  the  Prince  of  Orange  might  send  into  these 
parts  of  the  world.  The  old  magistrates  and  heads  of  the 
people  silently  wished,  and  secretly  prayed  for  success  to  the 
glorious  undertaking,  and  determined  quietly  to  wait  the 
event.     The  body  of  the  people  were  more  impatient.     The 


*  In  1684,  Boston  bad  increased  the  number  of  its  selectmen  from  7  to  9  :  in  1688  '  by  virtue 
of  an  act  of  the  Gov.  and  Council,'  it  was  reduced  to  8.  '  Every  town  was  suffered  to  meet 
once  a  year,  to  choose  their  officers,  but  all  meeting's  at  other  times  or  for  other  purposes 
were  strictly  forbidden.'  And  the  phraseology  of  the  records  is  altered  specially  from  '  a 
meeting-  of  the  freemen'  to  '  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants,' 

24 


186  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 

flame,  which  had  been  long  smothering  in  their  breasts,  burst 
forth  with  violence  on  Thursday,  the  18th  of  April  ;  when 
Andros,  and  such  of  the  Council  as  had  been  most  active, 
were  seized  and  confined,  and  the  old  magistrates  were  re- 
instated. The  most  circumstantial  account  of  this  exploit  is 
contained  in  the  following  letter  to  the  governour  of 
Plymouth. 

'  Boston,  April  22d,  89. 
'  Hon'd  Sir, 

'  The  consideration  of  my  sending  you  a  blank,  wherein 
only  the  declaration  was  enclosed,  seems  to  deserve  a  check, 
and  constrains  me  to  an  apology,  not  having  so  much  as  liber- 
ty granted  me  by  the  messenger  to  write  two  or  three  lines, 
whereby  you  might  have  understood  the  present  state  of 
things,  which  by  this  time  you  are  doubtless  acquainted  with  ; 
but  lest  it  should  prove  otherwise,  I  have  taken  the  pains  to 
give  a  brief  account — I  knew  not  any  thing  of  what  was  inten- 
ded, until  it  was  begun  ;  yet  being  at  the  north  end  of  the 
town,  where  I  saw  boys  running  along  the  streets,  with  clubs 
in  their  hands,  encouraging  one  another  to  fight,  I  began  to 
mistrust  what  was  intended,  and,  hastening  towards  the  town- 
dock,  I  soon  saw  men  running  for  their  arms  ;  but  before  I 
got  to  the  Red  Lion,  1  was  told,  that  Capt.  George  and  the 
master  of  the  frigate*  were  seized  and  secured  in  Mr.  Col- 
man's  house  at  the  north  end  ;  and  when  I  came  to  the  town- 
dock,  I  understood,  that  Bullivant  and  some  others  of  them 
were  laid  hold  of;  and  then,  immediately,  the  drums  began 
to  beat,  and  the  people  hastened  and  ran,  some  with  and  some 
for  arms. 

'  Young  Dudley!  and  Colonel  Lidget  with  some  difficulty 
attained  to  the  fort.  The  governour  immediately  sent  Dud- 
ley on  an  errand,  to  request  the  four  ministers,!  Mr.  Joyliffe,|| 
and  one  or  two  more,  to  come  to  him  at  the  fort,  pretending 
that,  by  them,  he  might  still  the  people,  not  thinking  it  safe 
for  him  to  go  to  them.  They  returned  for  answer,  that  they 
did  not  think  it  safe  for  them  to  go  to  him.  Now,  by  this 
time,  all  the  persons,  whom  they  concluded  not  to  be  for  their 
side,  were  seized  and  secured,  except  some  few  who  had  hid 

*  The  Rose. 

t  Mr.  Dudley,  his  father,  was  absent,  holding  court  in  the  Narraganset  country.  Some 
of  Providence  went  out  and  seized  him.  He  was  brought  to  Rosbury,  and  a  guard  placed 
round  his  house,  to  secure  him,  as  the  order  expresses  it,  against  violence.  He  was  after- 
wards committed  to  prison. 

+  Messrs.  Allen  and  Moodey,  of  the  First  Church,— Willard,  of  the  Old  South,— and  Cot- 
/  ton  Mather,  of  tie  Old  North. 

II  A  person,  who  had  been  many  years  a  leading  man  in  town  affairs  in  Boston,  and 
recorder  or  tOwn-clerk  at  the  time. 


HISTORY   OF  BOSTON.  187 

themselves,  who  afterwards  were  found,  and  dealt  by  as  the 
rest.  The  governour,  with  Palmer,  Randolph,  Lidget,  West, 
and  one  or  two  more,  were  in  the  fort.  All  the  companies 
were  soon  rallied  together  at  the  town-house  ;  where  assem- 
bled Capt.  Winthrop,*  Shrimpton,*  Page,!  and  many  other 
substantial  men,  to  consult  matters  ;  in  which  time  the  old 
governourj  came  among  them,  at  whose  appearance  there  was 
a  great  shout  by  the  soldiers.  Soon  after,  the  jack  was  set 
up  at  the  fort,  and  a  pair  of  colours  at  Beacon-hill,  which 
gave  notice  to  some  thousand  soldiers  on  Charlestown  side 
that  the  controversy  was  now  to  be  ended  ;  and  multitudes 
would  have  been  there,  but  that  there  was  no  need.  The 
frigate,  upon  the  news,  put  out  all  her  flags  and  pendants,  and 
opened  all  her  ports,  and  with  all  speed  made  ready  for  fight, 
under  the  command  of  the  lieutenant,  he  swearing  that  he 
would  die  before  she  should  be  taken  ;  although  the  captain 
sent  to  him,  that  if  he  fired  one  shot,  or  did  any  hurt,  they 
would  kill  him,  whom  they  had  seized  already  ;  but  the  lieu- 
tenant, not  regarding,  kept  those  resolutions  all  that  day. 

'  Now,  about  four  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  orders  were 
given  to  go  and  demand  the  fort ;  which  hour  the  soldiers 
longed  for  ;  and  had  it  not  been  just  at  the  nick,  the  gover- 
nour and  all  the  crew  had  made  their  escape  on  board  the 
frigate,  a  barge  being  sent  for  them  ;  but  the  soldiers,  being 
so  near,  got  the  barge.  The  army  divided,  and  part  came  up 
on  the  back  side  of  the  fort,  part  went  underneath  the  hill  to 
the  lower  battery  or  sconce,  where  the  red  coats  were,  who 
immediately  upon  their  approach  retired  up  to  the  fort  to 
their  master,  who  rebuked  them  for  not  firing  on  our  soldiers 
and,  as  I  am  informed,  beat  some  of  them.  When  the  soldiers 
came  to  the  battery  or  sconce,  they  presently  turned  the 
great  guns  about,  and  pointed  them  against  the  fort,  which  did 
much  daunt  those  within  ;  and  the  soldiers  were  so  void  of 
fear,  that,  I  presume,  had  those  within  the  fort,  been  resolute 
to  have  lost  their  lives  in  fight,  they  might  have  killed  an 
hundred  of  us  at  once,  being  so  thick  together  before  the 
mouths  of  the  cannon  of  the  fort,  all  loaden  with  small  shot  ; 
but  God  prevented  it.  Then  they  demanded  a  surrender, 
which  was  denied,  until  Mr.  West  and  another  should  first  go 
to  the  council,  and  after  their  return,  we  should  have  an  an- 
swer, whether  to  fight  or  no.  Upon  their  return,  they  came 
forth  from  the  fort,  and  went   disarmed  to   the  town-house, 


*  They  were  both  of  them  of  Sir  Edmund's  council, 
t  He  married  president  Dudley's  sister. 

X  Other  accounts  say,  that  be  and  the  old  magistrates  were  guarded  by   the  militia  with 
great  formality. 


188  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

and  from  thence,  some  to  the  close  jail,  and  the  governour, 
under  a  guard,  to  Mr.  Usher's  house.* 

'  The  next  day,  they  sent  the  two  colonels  to  demand  of 
him  the  surrender  of  the  castle,  which  he  resolved  not  to 
give  ;  but  they  told  him,  if  he  would  not  give  it  presently, 
under  his  hand  and  seal,  he  would  be  exposed  to  the  rage  of 
the  people,  and  so  left  him  ;  but  he  sent  and  told  them  that 
he  would,  and  did  so  ;  and  they  went  down,  and  it  was  sur- 
rendered to  them  with  cursings  ;  and  thej7  brought  the  men 
away,t  and  made  Captain  Fairweather  commander  in  it.  Now, 
by  the  time  that  the  men  came  back  from  the  castle,  all  the 
guns,  both  in  ships  and  batteries,  were  brought  to  bear  against 
the  frigate,  which  were  enough  to  have  shattered  her  in  pie- 
ces at  once,  resolving  to  have  her.  It  is  incident  to  corrupt 
nature  to  lay  the  blame  of  our  evil  deeds  any  where  rather  than 
on  ourselves  ;  so  Captain  George  cast  all  the  blame  now  upon 
that  devil  Randolph,  (for  had  it  not  been  for  him  he  had  nev- 
er troubled  this  good  people,)  earnestly  soliciting  that  he  might 
not  be  constrained  to  surrender  the  ship,  for  by  so  doing  both 
himself  and  all  his  men  would  lose  their  wages,  which  other- 
wise would  be  recovered  in  England,  giving  leave  to  go  on 
board  and  strike  the  topmasts  and  bring  the  sails  on  shore  ; 
and  so  he  did.  The  country  people  came  armed  into  the 
town,  in  the  afternoon,  in  such  rage  and  heat,  that  it  made  us 
all  tremble  to  think  what  would  follow  ;  for  nothing  would 
satisfy  them,  but  that  Gov.  Andros  must  be  bound  in  chains 
or  cords,  and  put  into  a  more  secure  plaee,  and  that  they 
would  see  done  before  thej  went  away  ;  and,  to  satisfy  them, 
he  was  guarded  by  them  to  the  fort.' 

None  of  the  magistrates  appear  to  have  been  privy  to  the 
rising  of  the  people  on  this  occasion  :  but  the  former  gover- 
nour, Mr.  Bradstreet,  with  several  of  the  assistants  chosen  in 
1686,  assembled  immediately  at  the  town-house,  and  assumed 
the  direction  of  affairs,  under  the  title  of  '  a  council  for  the 
safety  of  the  people  and  conservation  of  the  peace,'  and  as- 
sociated 22  others  with  them.  Mr.  Bradstreet  was  chosen 
their  president.  They  recommended  to  the  towns  to  send 
deputies  (not  exceeding  two  for  each  town,  except  Boston 
four})  to  form  an  assembly  on  the  9th  of  May.     This  assem- 


*  Mr.  John  Nelson,  a  young-  gentleman  of  Boston,  at  the  head  of  the  soldiers,  demanded 
the  fort  the  second  time  ;  and  then  the  governour  came  down,  and  surrendered  himself  and 
the  fort.    Need. 

f  Ensign  John  Pipon  was  at  that  time  commander  there.  The  veteran  Roger  Clap,  who 
had  succeeded  Capt.  Richard  Davenport  in  1665,  resigned  his  office  rather  than  submit  to  the 
requisitions  of  Andros.    Prince,  Chr.  Hist.  p.  73. — Col.  Rec.  1689. 

%  After  many  successive  petitions  for  an  increase  in  the  number  of  her  representatives, 
Boston  had  been  allowed  to  choose  three  in  1681. 


HISTORY    OTF   BOSTON.  189 

bly  declared  the  officers  chosen  in  1686  to  be  the  rightful 
government ;  and  adjourned  to  the  22d,  when  warm  disputes 
occurred  on  the  expediency  of  reassuming  the  old  charter. 
This  was  not  done. 

'  On  the  26th,  a  ship  arrived  from  England,  with  advice  of 
the  proclaiming  of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary.  This  was 
the  most  joyful  news  ever  received  in  New-England.  The 
fears  of  the  people,  of  any  very  bad  consequences  from  their 
late  actions,  were  now  over.  On  the  29th,  the  proclamation 
"was  published  in  Boston,  with  greater  ceremony  than  had 
been  known  ;  the  governour  and  council,  civil  and  military 
officers,  merchants  of  the  town,  and  principal  gentlemen  of 
the  town  and  country,  being  on  horseback  ;  the  regiment  of 
the  town,  and  many  companies  of  horse  and  foot  from  the 
country,  appearing  in  arms  ;  a  grand  entertainment  was  pre- 
pared in  the  town-house,  and  wine  was  served  out  to  the 
soldiers.' 

On  the  5th  of  June,  the  representatives  from  the  several 
towns,  on  a  new  choice,  assembled  at  Boston.  The  council 
immediately  proposed  to  them  to  consent  to  the  enlargement 
of  the  '  gentlemen  seized  by  the  people,'  upon  security  ;  but 
this  was  not  agreed  to  :  and  on  the  27th  they  resolved,  that 
they  were  not  bailable,  and  sent  up  articles  against  them. 
Sir  Edmund  and  his  friends  remained  in  close  custody  for 
upwards  of  twenty  weeks  ;  excepting  the  knight  himself,  who 
was  absent  a  short  time,  on  his  way  to  Rhode  Island,  having 
made  his  escape  through  the  craftiness  of  a  servant,  that 
'  enticed  the  centinel  to  drink,  and  then  to  suffer  him  to  be  on 
guard  in  his  stead  :'  but '  there,  Major  Sanford  stopped  him 
and  sent  him  back  to  the  castle  again.'  At  last  an  order  was 
received  from  the  king,  approving  the  course  pursued  by  the 
people  and  old  magistrates,  and  directing,  that  Andros  and  the 
rest  of  their  prisoners  should  be  sent  forthwith  to  England. 
This  order  arrived  late  in  the  year,  and  on  the  first  opportu- 
nity, (Feb.  1690,)  Sir  Edmund  with  Mr.  Dudley*  and  several 
others  embarked  for  England. 


*  '  Of  all  that  were  concerned  in  the  late  government,  Mr.  Dudley  felt  most  of  the  people's 
resentment.  He  writes  to  C.  Mather,  June  1st,  '  I  am  told  that  this  morning  is  the  last  op- 
portunity for  rolling-  away  the  stone  from  the  mouth  of  this  sepulchre,  where  I  am  buried 
alive,  in  which  I  yet  trouble  you  for  your  assistance.'  To  governour  Bradstreet,  Sept.  12th, 
'  After  twenty  weeks  unaccountable  imprisonment,  and  many  barbarous  usages  offered  me 
therein,  the  last  seven  weeks  whereof  are  upon  account  of  your  letters  tome,  I  have  now 
to  complain,  that  on  Monday  the  whole  day  I  could  be  allowed  no  victuals  till  nine  of  the 
clock  at  night,  when  the  keeper's  wife  offered  to  kindle  her  own  fire  to  warm  something 
for  me,  and  the  corporal  expressly  commanded  the  fire  to  be  put  out. — I  may  be  easily  op- 
pressed to  death.— God  will  hear  them  that  complain  to  him.— I  pray  your  directions  for 
your  oppressed  kinsman,  J.  D.' 


190  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

"  This  is  a  beaten  track."  "  Is  this  a  track 
Should  not  be  beaten  f  Never  beat  enough 
Till  enough  learnt  the  truths  it  would  inspire." 

There  were,  in  the  company  of  first  emigrants,  a  very  few 
who  entertained  sentiments  in  unison  with  the  church  of  Eng- 
land. We  hear  very  little  of  them  until  the  year  1646,  when 
Dr.  Child,  Maverick,  Fowle,  and  others,  presented  a  petition 
to  the  court,  in  which,  among  other  grievances,  they  complain 
that  '  divers  sober,  righteous,  and  godly  men — members  of 
the  church  of  England — and  their  posterity  are  detained  from 
the  seals  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  because,  as  it  is  supposed, 
they  will  not  take  these  churches'  covenants'  ;  and  '  humbly 
intreat — liberty  to  the  members  of  the  Church  of  E. — to 
enjoy  all  those  liberties  and  ordinances  Christ  hath  purchased 
— till  inconveniences  hereby  be  found,  prejudicial  to  the 
churches  and  colony.'  This  petition  met  with  so  unfavoura- 
ble a  reception,  that  it  is  probable  the  episcopalian  brethren 
made  no  attempts  afterwards  to  establish  a  society  of  their 
order  for  several  years.  In  1662,  the  court  declared  in  an 
official  document,  that  '  none  as  yet  among  them  had  appear- 
ed to  desire  to  use  the  book  of  common  prayer.'  But  when 
the  commissioners  from  K.  Charles  II.  were  at  Boston,  in 
1665,  they  had  a  chaplain  with  them,  and  the  agents  of  the 
colony  in  England,  and  the  general  court,  in  their  answers  to 
complaints  made  against  them  in  1677,  had  promised  that 
no  person  should  be  hindered  from  the  performance  of  church 
services.  From  that  time  a  society  seems  to  have  been  form- 
ing, and  in  the  year  1686  Randolph  writes  to  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  that  '  there  are  400  persons  who  are  daily  fre- 
quenters of  our  church,  and  as  many  more  would  come  over  to 
us,  but  some  being  tradesmen,  others  of  mechanick  professions, 
are  threatened  by  the  congregational  men  to  be  arrested  by 
their  creditors,  or  turned  out  of  their  work,  if  they  offer  to 
come.' 

In  disregard,  however,  of  all  such  discouragements,  a  meet- 
v      ing  was  held  on  the   15th  of  June,  of  that  year,    which  may 
be  considered  the  origin  of  the  first  episcopal  society  in  Bos- 
ton.    The  persons   who  then  associated   were  '  Mr.  Robert 
Ratcliffe,  our  minister,  Edw.  Randolph,  Esq.  one  of  His  M.'s 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  191 

council,  Capt.  Lidgett,  Mr.  Luscomb,  Mr.  White,  Mr.  Mac- 
carty,  Mr.  Ravenscroft,  Dr.  Clark,  Mr.  Turfrey,  Mr.  Richard 
Banks,  and  Dr.  Benja.  Bullivant  ;  and  at  a  subsequent 
meeting,  July  4,  Mr.  Proctor,  Mr.  Steph.  Wessendonck,  Mr. 
Thomas  Brinley,  and  Mr.  Mallet,  are  also  named.  Dr.  Bulli- 
vant and  Mr.  Banks  were  elected  the  first  wardens. 

At  those  meetings  it  was  agreed,  that  an  humble  address 
should  be  made  to  the  king,  to  be  signed  by  the  gentlemen 
first  named,  '  to  implore  H.  M.'s  favour  to  our  church,  and  it 
is  consented  that  all  true  sons  of  the  Church  of  E.  may  join 
with  us  in  the  same.'  In  the  same  method,  letters  were  to  be 
sent '  to  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God,  the  Lord  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  and  to  the  Reverend  Father  in  God, 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  to  implore  those  prelates'  favour.' 
It  was  also  agreed,  that  there  be  a  sacrament  the  second  sab- 
bath in  August,  and  that  the  prayers  of  the  church  be  said, 
every  Wednesday  and  Friday  in  the  year,  for  the  present  in 
the  library  chamber  in  the  town-house  in  Boston,  and  that  a 
sober  and  fit  person  be  sought  after  for  a  clerk.  Mr.  Thomas 
Hill  was  selected  and  held  the  first  office  of  that  name.     Mr. 

Smith  was  the  first  sexton*     He  was  a  joiner,  and  was 

employed  to  make  12  forms  [settees]  for  the  service  of  the 
church,  and  also  to  clean,  place,  and  remove  the  pulpit,  forms, 
table,  etcetera,and  '  do  all  other  things,  which  shall  be  conve- 
nient and  necessary,  in  their  place  of  publick  assembling.' 

The  first  step  towards  the  erection  of  a  church  was  an  ad- 
dress to  the  [President  and]  Council,  for  '  liberty  and  author- 
ity, by  a  brief,  to  pass  through  the  whole  territory  of  H.  M. 
in  N.  E.  and  therein  to  collect  and  receive  all  such  voluntary 
donations,  as  all  persons  whatsoever  shall  be  disposed  to  give 
us,  for  and  towards  the  building  of  a  church,  in  Boston,  to  be 
erected  for  the  service  of  God  and  for  the  use  of  the  church 
of  E.  as  per  law   established.'     This    was  in  July,  1686.* 
Gov.  Andros  arriving  in  Dec.  of  that  year,  and  not   finding 
the  church  so  well  accommodated  as  the  congregations  were, 
made  application  for  the  use  of  one  of  the  meeting-houses,  and 
having  examined  the  three,  made  choice  of  the  Old  South,  and 
sent  Randolph  to  ask  for  the   keys.     The  proprietors  declar- 
ed, that  they  could  not  in  conscience  suffer  the   house  to  be 
occupied  for  such    a    purpose   as   the  governour    proposed. 
Andros  however  persisted,  and  on  Friday,  the  25th  of  March, 
1687,  had  a  service  performed  there  :  '  good  man  Needham, 
though  he  had  resolved  to  the  contrary,  being  prevailed  upon 
to  ring  the  bell  and  open  the  door  at  the  governour's    com- 
mand.' 


*  '  Aug.  5.    Mr.  Harris,  boddice-maker,  is  the  first  buried  with  Common  Prayer  :  he  was 
formerly  Randolph's  landlord.'    SemalFs  Diary  in  Holmes'*  Annals. 


V 


192  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON". 

It  is  probable,  that  the  council  acceded  to  the  request  of 
the  church,  and  granted  them  a  brief  for  obtaining  subscrip- 
tions, for  they  proceeded  to  build  a  house  of  worship.  It  is 
usually  said  to  have  been  founded  in  1688  :  the  first  record, 
that  speaks  of  it  as  if  finished,  is  dated  July,  1689,  and  is  a 
list  of  those  '  that  contributed'  towards  the  house.  They 
were  106  in  number,  and  the  amount  of  their  contributions 
was  £256.  9s.  Od.  The  cost  of  the  house  was  £284.  16s.  Od. 
exclusive  of  some  items  for  which  no  charge  was  made.  It 
was  a  wooden  building,  with  a  steeple,  and  occupied  part  of 
the  land  on  which  the  Stone  Chapel  now  stands.  How  the 
society  obtained  possession  of  the  lot  does  not  appear.  It  had 
been  the  property  of  the  town  ;  but  whether  Johnson,  as  is  the 
opinion  of  some,  had  reserved  a  portion  of  it  for  the  site  of  a 
church,  or  whether,  according  to  another  opinion,  Andros  ex- 
ercised the  power,  which  the  annihilation  of  the  charter  was 
supposed  to  give  the  king  over  all  landed  estate,  and  of  his 
own  will  appropriated  it  to  the  use  of  the  church,  must  remain 
undecided.  At  first  there  were  no  pews  in  the  house ;  in 
1694,  fifty-three  persons  subscribed  toward  the  building  of 
pews  ;  those  probably  were  all  attendants  on  the  service  of 
the  church.  Down  to  May,  1698,  we  find  the  building  called 
His  Majesty's  chapel ;  in  November,  King's  chapel,  and  in 
1713,  Queen's  chapel,  in  honour  of  queen  Anne. 

Mr.  Ratcliffe,  the  first  rector  (who  had  an  assistant  by  the 
name  of  Robert  Clarke)  came  over  with  Mr.  Dudley.  He  is 
noticed  by  Dunton,  who  says,  he  '  read  the  common  prayer  in 
his  surplice  and  preached  in  the  town-house  on  Lord's  days. 
He  was  an  eminent  preacher,  and  his  sermons  were  useful 
and  well  dressed  :  I  was  once  or  twice  to  hear  him,  and  it 
was  noised  about,  that  Dr.  Annesley's  son-in-law  was  turned 
apostate  :  but  I  could  easily  forgive  'era,  in  regard  the 
common  prayer  and  surplice  were  religious  novelties  in  New- 
England.1 

It  may  be  noted  here,  that,  under  the  charter  government, 
the  clergy  had  never  performed  any  part  of  the  ceremonies 
at  marriages  or  funerals,  except  an  occasional  prayer,  '  lest  it 
might  in  time  introduce  the  customs  of  the  English  church.' 
Upon  Mr.  Dudley's  being  appointed  President,  in  1686,  he 
published  an  order  of  council,  authorizing  and  empowering 
ministers  and  justices  to  "  consummate  marriages  :"  and  in 
1688,  we  find  Mr.  Ratcliffe  persisting  in  the  performance  of 
the  burial  service  at  the  grave  of  one  Lilly,  in  opposition  to 
the  will  of  his  executors.  After  that  time  our  present  customs 
in  these  respects  came  slowly  into  vogue. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON,  J  93 


CHAPTER  XXXIH. 

She  deals  in  charms— can  read  the  book  of  fate,, 
And  tells  the  future  with  unerring  skill. 

Atheneum.. 

The  execution  of  Mrs.  Hibbins  for  witchcraft  had  been 
disapproved  by  many  people  of  note,  and  it  is  not  unlikely 
t'.at  her  death  saved  the  lives  of  many,  who  might  have  been 
made  the  victims  of  a  delusion,  which,  in  the  thirty  years  suc- 
ceeding, had  brought  many  to  believe  that  there  might  exist 
such  a  thing  as  a  witch,  or  person  favoured  with  uncommon 
communications  from  the  prince  of  darkness.  In  1687  or 
'88  an  instance  occurred  in  Boston,  which  was  more  alarm- 
ing than  any  that  had  preceded  it.  It  certainly  entitles  us  to 
divide  the  credit,  which  our  sister  town  of  Salem  has  borne 
away  so  long. 

'  Four  of  the  children  of  John  Goodwin,  a  grave  man  and 
a  good  liver  at  the  north  part  of  Boston,  were  generally  be- 
lieved to  be  bewitched.  I  have  often  heard  persons,  who 
were  of  the  neighbourhood,  speak  of  the  great  consternation 
it  occasioned.  The  children  were  all  remarkable  for  ingenu- 
ity of  temper,  had  been  religiously  educated,  and  were 
thought  to  be  without  guile.  The  eldest  was  a  girl  of  thir- 
teen or  fourteen  years.  She  had  charged  a  laundress  with 
taking  away  some  of  the  family  linen.  The  mother  of  the 
laundress  was  one  of  the  wild  Irish,  of  bad  character,  and 
gave  the  girl  harsh  language  ;  soon  after  which  she  fell  into 
fits,  which  were  said  to  have  something  diabolical  in  them. 
One  of  her  sisters  and  two  brothers  followed  her  example, 
and,  it  is  said,  were  tormented  in  the  same  part  of  their  bodies 
at  the  same  time,  although  kept  in  separate  apartments,  and 
ignorant  of  one  another's  complaints.  One  or  two  things  were 
said  to  be  very  remarkable  j  all  their  complaints  were  in  the 
day  time,  and  they  slept  comfortably  all  night ;  they  were 
struck  dead  at  the  sight  of  the  assembly's  catechism,  Cotton's 
milk  for  babes,  and  some  other  good  books,  but  could  read  in 
Oxford's  jests,  Popish  and  Quaker  books,  and  the  common 
prayer,  without  any  difficulty.  Is  it  possible  the  mind  of  man 
should  be  capable  of  such  strong  prejudices,  as  that  a  suspi- 
cion of  fraud  should  not  immediately  arise  ?  But  attachments 
to  modes  and  forms  in  religion  had  such  force,  that  some  of 
these  circumstances  seem  rather  to  have  confirmed  the  credit 
of  the  children.  Sometimes  they  would  be  deaf,  then  dumb* 
25 


194  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

then  blind  ;  and  sometimes  all  these  disorders  together  would 
come  upon  them.  Their  tongues  would  be  drawn  down  their 
throats,  then  pulled  out  upon  their  chins.  Their  jaws,  necks, 
shoulders,  elbows,  and  all  their  joints  would  appear  to  be  dislo- 
cated ;  and  they  would  make  most  piteous  outcries  of  burnings, 
of  being  cut  with  knives,  beat,  &c.  and  the  marks  of  wounds 
were  afterwards  to  be  seen.  The  ministers  of  Boston  and 
Charlestown  kept  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  at  the  troubled 
house  ;  after  which,  the  youngest  child  made  no  more  com- 
plaints. The  others  persevered,  and  the  magistrates  then 
interposed,  and  the  old  woman  was  apprehended  ;  but  upon 
examination  would  neither  confess  nor  deny,  and  appeared  to 
be  disordered  in  her  senses.  Upon  the  report  of  physicians, 
that  she  was  compos  mentis,  she  was  executed,  declaring  at  her 
death  the  children  should  not  be  relieved.  The  eldest,  after 
this,  was  taken  into  a  minister's  family,  where  at  first  she  be- 
haved orderly,  but  after  some  time  suddenly  fell  into  her  fits. 
The  account  of  her  affliction  is  in  print  ;  some  things  are 
mentioned  as  extraordinary,  which  tumblers  are  every  day 
taught  to  perform  ;  others  seem  more  than  natural ;  but  it  was 
a  time  of  great  credulity.  The  children  returned  to  their  or- 
dinary behaviour,  lived  to  adult  age,  made  profession  of  reli- 
gion, and  the  affliction  they  had  been  under  they  publickly 
declared  to  be  one  motive  to  it.  One  of  them  I  knew  many 
years  after.  She  had  the  character  of  a  very  sober,  virtuous 
woman,  and  never  made  any  acknowledgment  of  fraud  in  this 
transaction.  The  printed  account  was  published,  with  a  pre- 
face by  Mr.  Baxter,  who  says, '  the  evidence  is  so  convincing, 
that  he  must  be  a  very  obdurate  Sadducee,  who  will  not  be- 
lieve.' Says  Hutchinson,  from  whom  this  account  is  taken, 
'  it  obtained  credit  sufficient,  together  with  other  preparatives, 
to  dispose  the  whoJe  country  to  be  easily  imposed  upon  by 
the  more  extensive  and  more  tragical  scene,  which  was  pres- 
ently after  acted  at  Salem  and  other  parts  of  the  county  of 
Essex.' 

In  1690,  August  3d,  a  fire  near  the  Mill  bridge,  across  the 
creek  in  Hanover  street,  consumed  several  houses  :  and  the 
fire  known  as  the  fifth  great  fire  happened  September 
16th,  near  the  [Old]  South  meeting-house,  greatly  endangered 
it,  and  burnt  several  houses.  A  lad  was  burnt  to  death  in 
the  house  where  it  began. 

1691,  June  30th,  in  the  sixth  great  fire,  which  happened  at 
the  King's  Head,  by  Scarlett's  wharf,  North-end,  several 
houses  were  consumed. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON,  1,95 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Tlie  senate  owns  its  gratitude  to  Cato, 
Who  with  so  great  a  soul  consults  its  safety, 
And  guards  our  lives,  while  he  neglects  his  own. 

Addisoiu 

However  true  the  observation  may  have  been,  that  the  peo> 
pie  in  general  were  patient  under  Andros's  government,  some 
of  the  principal  men  had  thought  it  an  object  to  endeavour  to 
obtain  relief  from  their  sufferings,  by  a  representation  of  their 
grievances  to  King  James.  It  was  proposed  '  that  some  one 
should  be  sent  with  an  address  of  thanks  to  the  king,  for  his 
gracious  declaration,  wherein  he  does  promise  us  the  free  ex- 
ercise of  our  religion,  and  that  he  will  maintain  us  in  the  en- 
joyment of  our  rights  and  possessions.'  Mr.  Increase  Mather, 
(then  pastor  of  the  Old  North  church,  in  conjunction  with  his 
son  Cotton,)  was  selected  for  this  purpose,  and  on  propound- 
ing the  matter  to  his  church,  Dec.  11,  1687,  he  found  them 
all  willing  that  he  should  go.  He  was  ready  to  sail  in  April, 
1688,  and  did  so,  notwithstanding  the  machinations  of  Ran- 
dolph, who,  on  false  pretences,  was  bringing  an  action  against 
hhn  about  the  same  time.  Mr.  Mather  was  obliged  to  keep 
himself  concealed,  to  avoid  the  service  of  the  writ ;  and  when 
the  vessel  was  ready  to  sail,  some  of  his  church  carried  him 
aboard,  in  the  night,  in  disguise. 

Mr.  Mather  was  the  man  of  all  the  clergy,  on  whom  the 
mantle  of  the  departed  Cotton  seems  to  have  rested.  His  in- 
fluence on  the  character  of  the  town,  and  particularly  on  that 
part  of  it  in  which  he  resided,  was  equal  to  that  of  his  revered 
exemplar.  4  Ardent,  bold,  enterprising,  and  perhaps  ambi- 
tious ;  conscious  of  his  own  power,  religiously  sensible  of  his 
obligations  to  exercise  it  usefully  ;*  born  and  trained  in  a 
young  colony  struggling  with  hardships,  and  forcing  its  way 
through  peril  and  fear  ;  his  mind  fashioned  by  a  father,  who 
for  conscience1  sake  had  quitted  all  and  settled  in  this  hope- 
less land,  and  who  had  all  the  zeal  and  firmness  which  char- 
acterized the  puritans  of  that  age,  a  race  eminently  formed 
"  to  do  and  to  dare  5" — thus  gifted  and  educated,  he  became 
peculiarly  fit,  and  no  wonder  it  was  felt  that  he  was  fit,  to 
have   an  ascendency  and  exercise  a   control.     He  had   re- 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Ware's  Discourses. 


196  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

ceived  the  best  education  of  his  own  country,  he  had  com- 
pleted it  abroad,  he  had  been  driven  from  place  to 
place,  suffering  for  his  religion,  and  presented  with 
strong  temptations  to  abandon  it,  thus  acting  a  hurried 
and  various  part  in  the  most  trying  times  in  the  mother 
country — and  after  this  discipline,  so  calculated  to  give  firm- 
ness and  character,  he  returned  to  labour  in  the  service  of 
this  infant  state.  Nothing  can  be  conceived  more  likely  to 
prepare  a  man  to  act  well  his  part  in  so  peculiar  a  scene.  He 
soon  became  eminent.  Talents,  learning,  and  virtue  are  al- 
ways commanding.  In  that  age  a  religious  spirit  was  indis- 
pensable to  honour  and  power.  Mather  had  all.  He  was 
conspicuous  for  rigid  piety  where  all  were  rigid,  and  eminent 
for  talents  and  knowledge,  where  many  had  been  eminent  be- 
fore him.  It  therefore  is  not  strange  that  he  acquired  a  con- 
trol to  which  few  are  equal,  and  received  and  held  honours 
which  would  not  now  be  bestowed  upon  ministers.' 

Mr.  Mather's  exertions  and  remonstrances  with  James  II. 
were  unavailing,  and  he  determined  to  wait  the  event  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange's  expedition.  Soon  after  the  withdrawal  of 
James,  he  was  introduced  to  the  prince,  and  obtained  some 
partial  favours,  and  royal  promises  of  more.  Mr.  M.  impro- 
ved all  his  time  in  unwearied  efforts  to  secure  friends  for  his 
country.  Besides  several  of  the  nobility  and  principal  com- 
moners, he  had  engaged  the  whole  body  of  the  dissenting 
ministers,  whose  weight  at  that  time  was  far  from  inconsidera- 
ble. Before  any  thing  was  completed,  the  general  court 
thought  it  advisable  to  send  over  two  of  their  members  to  join 
with  Mr.  Mather  and  Sir  Henry  Ashurst  (whose  services  he 
had  retained)  in  maintaining  their  charges  against  their  op- 
pressors, as  well  as  in  soliciting  the  restoration  of  the  charter, 
with  such  additional  privileges  as  should  be  thought  proper. 
The  persons  appointed  were  Doctors  Elisha  Cooke  and 
Thomas  Oakes,  both  practitioners  of  medicine  in  Boston,  just 
rising  into  eminence  in  the  political  theatre,  in  which  both 
sustained  very  eminent  parts  afterwards.  The  result  of  all 
their  petitions  and  remonstrances,  suggestions  and  objections 
was,  that  a  new  charter  was  formed,  in  which  '  the  colony  of 
New  Plymouth,  the  province  of  Maine  and  the  country  of 
Nova  Scotia,  with  the  lands  between  the  two  latter,  were 
joined  to  Massachusetts.' 

Sir  William  Phips  was  appointed  the  first  governour  under 
the  new  order  of  things.  Pie  arrived  at  Boston  with  the 
charter,  Saturday  the  14th  of  May,  1692,  towards  evening. 
On  Monday  he  was  conducted  from  his  house  to  the  town- 
house,  by  the  regiment  of  Boston,  the  military  companies  of 
Charlestown,  the  magistrates,  ministers,  and  principal  gentle- 


HISTORY    OF  BOSTON.  197 

men  of  Boston  and  the  adjacent  towns.  The  charter  was  first 
published,  then  the  governour's  commission  ;  and  thereupon 
the  venerable  old  charter  governour  Bradstreet  resigned  the 
chair  ;  not  without  a  deep  sigh  from  many  of  the  spectators. 
After  publishing  the  lieutenant-governour's  commission,  and 
administering  the  oaths,  the  governour  was  conducted,  with 
the  same  parade,  to  the  place  appointed  for  a  publick  dinner, 
and  from  thence  to  his  house  again.' 

His  residence  was  in  Charter-street  at  the  corner  of  Salem- 
street,  which  was  then  called  Green-lane,  in  the  house  now- 
occupied  by  the  Asylum  for  indigent  boys.  It  is  a  three-story 
brick  house,  in  an  elevated  situation,  commanding  a  delightful 
view  of  the  harbour  and  of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  charter  named  the  persons  who  were  to  form  the  coun- 
cil for  the  first  }^ear,  and  made  provision  for  the  organization 
of  an  assembly  or  house  of  representatives.  Writs  were  issu- 
ed without  delay,  and  the  first  court  under  the  new  charter 
met  on  the  8th  of  June,  1692.  Although  a  party  was  formed, 
which  opposed  submission  to  the  charter,  a  majority  of  the 
court  "  thankfully  accepted  it,  and  appointed  a  day  of  solemn 
thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  for  granting  a  safe  arrival  to  his 
excellency  the  Governour  and  the  Rev.JVIr.  I.  Mather,  who  have 
industriously  endeavoured  the  service  of  this  people,  and  have 
brought  over  with  them  a  settlement  of  government,  in  which 
their  majesties  have  graciously  given  us  distinguishing  marks 
of  their  royal  favour  and  goodness." 

The  court  interpreted  their  powers  with  regard  to  the  ap- 
portionment of  representatives  so  as  to  allow  Boston  four 
members  in  the  house,  which  continued  to  be  her  number 
until  the  revolution  in  1775. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

"Just  a  stained  stone, 
To  mark  the  spot  so  holy  once, 
And  with  gray  moss  o'ergrown." 

The  Society  of  Friends  and  the  French  Protestant  Church 
having  both  become  extinct  in  Boston,  we  shall  introduce  in 
this  place  the  information  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  con- 
cerning their  history.  The  denomination  of  Quakers  took  its 
rise  in  Leicestershire  (E.)  in  1644.  The  first  that  came  to 
Boston  were  Mary  Fisher  and  Anne  Austin,  who  arrived  from 
Barbadoes  in  the  fore  part  of  the   5th  month,  1656.     These 


198  HISTORY    01?   BOSTON. 

women  were  made  prisoners  on  board  the  vessel ;  the  books 
they  brought  with  them  were  burnt,  and  they  were  taken  to 
gaol  and  confined,  as  were  seven  others,  in  about  a  month 
after.  Nicholas  Upshall,  an  aged  member  of  a  Boston 
church,  whose  humane  and  tender  feelings  induced  him  to 
apply  to  the  gaoler  for  leave  to  furnish  them  with  provisions, 
and  even  to  purchase  that  liberty  at  the  price  of  5s.  a  week, 
was  for  thus  doing  and  bearing  his  testimony,  weeping,  against 
the  persecution  of  these  people,  fined  j£20,  and  banished  the 
colony,  though  he  was  both  a  freeman  and  freeholder  in  the 
town.  He  was  permitted  to  return  in  about  five  years,  and 
opened  his  house,  and  furnished  a  room  in  it,  for  the  use  of 
travelling  Friends. 

Such  was  the  dread  of  the  influence  of  this  sect,  that  severe 
laws  were  immediately  passed  to  prevent  their  entrance  into 
the  jurisdiction,  on  penalty  of  fines,  stripes,  and  imprison- 
ment. This  not  proving  effectual,  it  was  enacted,  that  any 
Quaker  found  here  should  have  one  of  his  ears  cut  off"  for  the 
first  offence,  and  lose  the  other  for  a  second,  and  have  his 
tongue  bored  through  with  a  hot  iron  for  the  third.  Three 
Quakers,  Holden,  Copeland,  and  Rouse,  lost  each  his  right 
ear  under  this  law,  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman,  in  Boston 
prison,  Sept.  16,  1658. 

All  this  severity  was  of  no  avail  ;  the  persecutors  seem  to 
have  been  infuriated,  and  their  fury  drove  the  Quakers  to 
acts  of  desperation.  They  still  came  into  the  colony:  the 
court  ordered  some  to  be  sold  as  slaves  for  the  payment  of 
their  fines  !  this  frightened  the  particular  objects  of  the  order, 
and  they  were  suffered  to  go  to  their  own  homes.  The  sect 
grew  under  all  these  disadvantages,  and  several  families  went 
over  to  it  :  the  magistrates  were  more  provoked,  and  the  gen- 
eral court  passed  a  law  to  banish  all  Quakers,  not  inhabitants, 
upon  pain  of  death.  Four  persons  suffered  death  at  Boston 
by  virtue  of  this  law  ;  viz.  Wra.  Robinson,  Marmaduke  Ste- 
venson, Wm.  Leddra,  and  Mary  Dyer;  the  last  on  the  first  of 
June,  1660.  She  had  been  conspicuous  in  Mrs.  Hutchinson's 
controversy,  and  that  probably  aggravated  her  guilt.  Her 
son  came  forward  and  plead  for  her  pardon,  but  in  vain.  One 
of  the  officers  under  the  gallows  at  the  time  of  her  execution, 
Edward  Wanton,  was  so  affected  at  the  sight,  that  he  became 
a  convert  to  the  cause  of  the  Friends.  The  Quakers  discov- 
ered, that  this  law  was  an  exercise  of  power  not  authorized 
by  the  patent,  and  made  such  complaints  to  the  king  that  no 
further  execution  of  it  ever  took  place  :  whipping  at  a  cart's 
tail,  through  all  the  towns  in  their  way  out  of  the  jurisdiction, 
was  substituted  for  death. 

The  first  meeting  of  Friends  in  Boston,  of  which  we  have 
account,  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Wanton,  on  the  4th  of  May, 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  199 

1664,  when  a  warrant  was  issued  to  apprehend  the  preacher, 
and  report  the  names  of  his  hearers  to  the  governour.  The 
spirit  of  persecution  was  kept  alive  and  manifested  itself  in 
various  ways,  after  this.  On  the  9th  of  August,  1675,  there 
were  apprehended,  at  their  ordinary  place  of  meeting,  Robt. 
Edmund,  Edw.  Shippen,  John  Soames,  Jere.  Debee,  George 
Danson,  Miles  Foster,  Humphrey  Hodges,  Bridget  Phillips, 
Tho.  Scott,  Wm.  Neal,  Eph.  Stratton,  Elizabeth  Bowers 
(senior  and  junior),  Geo.  Walker.  Twelve  of  these  14  were 
whipped  ;  the  other  two  paid  their  fine.  At  the  next  meeting- 
day,  15  were  whipped,  viz.  the  eight  first  abovenamed,  with 
Wm.  Richardson,  Thomas  Holburn,  Rebecca  Levy,  Josiah 
Southwick,  Wm.  Mumford,  Eliphalet  [?]  Stratton,  and  Anna 
Wilson.  We  have  mentioned  the  names,  to  give  the  best  ac- 
count we  can  obtain,  of  the  number  of  men  Friends  in  and 
near  Boston  at  the  time.* 

Under  the  new  charter,  the  Quakers,  Baptists,  and  Episco- 
palians were  placed  on  more  equal  ground  with  their  neigh- 
bours, and  some  laws  passed  in  1692  exempting  them  from 
taxation.  In  1694,  the  Quakers  had  a  lot  in  Brattle-street, 
measuring  108  by  25£  ft.  for  a  meeting-house  and  burying 
lot,  and  built  a  brick  house  thereon  24  by  20  ft.  which  was 
secured  to  the  society  by  Messrs.  Mumford,  Shippen,Soames, 
Wanton  abovenamed,  and  Walter  Clark  of  Newport  and  Wm. 
Chamberlain  of  Hull,  '  to  the  only,  sole,  and  proper  use,  for  the 
service  and  worship  of  Almighty  God,  by  the  society  or  com- 
munity of  people  called  Quakers.'  In  1708,  it  was  concluded 
to  sell  the  old  meeting-house  and  build  a  new  one,  if  leave 
could  be  obtained  to  build  of  wood  ;  but  in  1709  the  com- 
mittee, Walter  Newberry,  John  Wing,  and  Thomas  Richard- 
son, reported  their  disappointment  in  this  respect,  and  it  was 
therefore  concluded  to  build  of  brick,  a  house  35  ft.  long  and 
30  ft.  wide.  This  was  the  building  now  standing  in  Congress- 
street,  which  is  dated  on  the  old  plans  of  the  town  as  if  erect- 
ed in  1710  ;  the  deed,  however,  by  which  the  lot  was  con- 
veyed to  the  society,  June  10,  1717,  speaks  of  '  the  brick 
meeting-house  lately  erected  thereon,'  which  would  leave  a 
doubt  whether  it  was  built  so   early.     This   is   the   oldest  of 


*  For  this  and  other  information  we  are  indebted  to  a  venerable  professor  of  the  denomi- 
nation. 

Town  Records,  1678.  Alex'r.  Coleman,  shoemaker,  '  the  Quaker  that  came  into  the  third 
meeting-house  in  a  bloody  coat,'  is  presented  to  the  county  court  as  a  person  unfit  to  abide 
here.  At  another  time  Tho.  Newhouse  went  into  a  meeting-bouse  with  a  couple  of  great 
glass  bottles,  and  breaking  them  against  "ne  another,  in  the  face  of  the  congregation,  said, 
Thus  will  the  Lord  break  you  in  pieces.  Similar  acts  of  imprudence  are  attributed  to  others  : 
all  which  geem  to  be  the  result  of  phjcensy,  induced  by  the  equally  senseless  cruelty  witfc 
which  they  were  goaded-. 


200  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

the  meeting-houses  now  standing  in  the  city.  It  was  burnt  in 
the  great  fire  of  1760,  and  in  the  same  year  it  was  concluded 
by  the  yearly  meeting  to  repair  it,  which  was  done. 

The  Friends  were  never  numerous  in  this  place.  '  In  the 
eleventh  month,  1774,'  says  our  informant,  '  I  was  in  Boston 
and  visited  every  family,  and  took  account  of  their  names  as 
follows  :  Ebenezer  Pope,  John  Pope,  Samuel  Pope,  James 
Raymer,  John  Phillips,  Ephraim  Silsbee,  Nathanael  Low, 
Ezra  Collins,  Ezra  Curten,  Daniel  Silsbee,  Josiah  Gorham  : 
these  eleven  were  all  the  members  belonging  to  Boston  meet- 
ing of  Friends.  I  was  at  a  monthly  meeting  there,  which  was 
small  ;  it  was  held  alternately  at  Boston  and  Lynn  or  Salem  ; 
they  were  then  in  a  declining  state.'  Their  numbers  dimin- 
ished after  that,  and  the  meetings  were  discontinued  by  a 
regular  vote  in  .    The  house  has  been  deserted, 

the  burying-ground  undisturbed  for  several  years,  and  we 
know  not  now  of  a  single  professed  Friend  in  Boston. 

The  French  church  became  embodied  about  the  same  time, 
but  did  not  flourish  so  long  as  the  Quakers.  After  having 
endured  severe  persecutions,  the  Protestants  in  France  were 
relieved  from  their  distresses  by  the  edict  of  Nantes,  issued 
by  Henry  IV.  in  1598.  Lewis  XIV.  confirmed  it  in  1652, 
but  soon  after  suffered  its  provisiens  to  be  violated.*  The 
protestants  were  deprived  of  all  offices,  hundreds  of  their 
churches  desolated,  and  at  last,  in  1685,  the  edict  was  formal- 
ly revoked,  and  multitudes  were  compelled  by  this  act  to 
flee  from  the  country.  Some  sought  shelter  in  England  and 
Ireland:  others  directed  their  way  to  America,  and  some  of 
these  settled  in  Boston.  Those  who  arrived  here  probably 
came  in  the  summer  of  1686,  for  contributions  were  taken  on 
their  behalf  at  Salem,  in  September  of  that  year  ;  and  we  also 
find  in  Cotton  Mather's  MS.  notes  of  sermons,  under  date  of 
Sept.  12.  and  Oct.  7.  minutes  of  discourses  by  a  Mr. 
Laurie,  from  the  tenour  of  which  it  is  is  apparent  that  he  was 
of  the  number.  Pierre  Baudouin  (the  ancestor  of  the  Bow- 
doin  family)  fled  first  to  Ireland,  and  thence  came  to  Maine  in 
1687,  and  soon  after  to  Boston.  The  first  notice  we  discover 
of  the  church  in  this  place  is  in  the  Magnalia,  (i.  86)  where 
the  author  enumerates  among  the  churches  in  Boston, '  a 
French  congregation  of  Protestant  refugees,  under  the  pasto- 
ral care  of  Monsieur  Daille.'  f 

*  '  John  Touton,  a  French  doctor  and  inhabitant  of  Rochelle  in  France,  made  application  ts 
the  court  in  behalf  of  himself  and  other  protestants  expelled  from  their  habitations  on  ac- 
count of  their  religion,  that  they  might  have  liberty  to  inhabit  here,  which  was  readily  grant- 
ed to  them.'    Hutch,  vol.  i.  Col.  rec.  1662.  p.  413. 

t  The  records  of  this  church  are  supposed  to  be  in  existence,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to 
discover  them.  A  bible  presented  by  Queen  Anne  is  also  mentioned  in  Mass.  H.  C  1.  iij.  264. 


HISTORY   OF    BOSTON*  201 

M.  Daille  continued  to  be  pastor  of  this  church  till  his 
death,  which  took  place  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  May  20, 
1715.  He  was  about  66  years  of  age  ;  '  a  person  of  great 
piety,  charity,  affable  and  courteous  behaviour,  and  of  an 
exemplary  life  and  conversation  :  much  lamented,  especially 
by  his  flock.'  Monsieur  D.  had  buried  two  wives,  Esther- 
Latonice,  who  died  Dec.  14,  1696,  and  Seike,  who  died,  Aug.  \ 
31,  1713  ;  and  he  left  a  widow,  whose  name  was  Martha. 
His  will  required,  that  his  body  should  be  '  decently  inter- 
red' according  to  the  discretion  of  his  executor,  Mr.  James 
Bowdoin,  '  with  this  restriction,  that  there  be  no  wine  at  my 
funeral,  and  none  of  my  wife's  relations  have  any  mourning 
clothes  furnished  them,  except  gloves.'  All  the  ministers  of 
the  town,  together  with  Mr.  Walter,  are  presented  with  gloves 
and  scarfs  :  his  books  are  given  to  form  a  library  for  the 
church  ;  jElOO  for  the  benefit  of  the  minister,  and  £10  to  be 
put  to  interest,  until  the  church  should  erect  a  meeting-house, 
when  it  was  to  be  appropriated  towards  the  expenses  of  the 
same.  He  remembers  his  'brother  '  Paul  Daille  Vaugelade 
in  Amsfort  in  Holland,'  and  signs  himself  Daille]  omitting  his 
baptismal  name  of  Peter. 

From  the  above  notice  of  a  meeting-house,  it  appears  that 
the  French  church,  which  once  stood  in  School-street,  on  the 
lot  next  east  of  the  Universal  meeting-house,  was  not  erected 
till  after  1715.     The  lot  had  come  into  their  possession,  Jan. 

4,  1705,  by  a  conveyance  from Mears  to  '  John  Tar- 

tarien,  Francis  Breedon,  Jean  Depuis,  elders  of  the  said 
French  church,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of  the 
congregation — being  to  erect  and  build  a  church  upon  for 
the  use  of  the  F.  congregation  in  Boston,  to  meet  therein  for 
the  worship  and  service  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the. 
way  and  manner  of  the  reformed  churches  of  France.'  On 
the  7th  of  Feb.  1705,  '  John  Portree,  F.  Breeden,  and  John 
Dupee,'  petitioned  the  selectmen  for  licence  to  erect  a  wood- 
en building  for  a  meeting-house  of  35  by  30  ft.  on  that  piece 
of  land.  It  was  judged  I  not  convenient  to  grant  the  same, 
since  they  have  the  offer  of  the  free  liberty  to  meet  in  the 
new  school-house,' as  they  had  for  some  years  past  done  in 
the  old,  and  that  being  sufficient  for  a  far  greater  number  of 
persons  than  doth  belong  to  their  congregation.'  The  brick 
building  was  probably  erected  in  1716  :  it  is  mentioned  by 
C.  Mather  in  Jan.  1717. 

M.  Daille's  successor  was  the  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier, 
whose  name  is  found  on  the  town  records  in  1719.  He  pub- 
lished a  church  history  of  Geneva,  in  1732,  from  which  it 
appears  that  he  was  educated  in  that  country.  This  chufch. 
did  not  increase  in  number  sufficiently  to  enable  them  to 
26 


202  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

support  the  expenses  of  a  separate  house  of  worship  and  on 
that  account  the  society  was  discontinued.  On  the  7th  of 
March,  1748,  the  proprietorship  of  the  house  in  School-street 
was  transferred  to  several  gentlemen  as  trustees  of  anew  con- 
gregational church.  The  transfer  was  made  by  Stephen 
Boutineau,  only  surviving  elder,  Zach.  Johonnot,  Jean  Ar- 
nault, John  Brown,  Andrew  Johonnot,  James  Packonett,  Wm. 
Bowdoin,  Andrew  Sigourney,  members,  and  Mr.  Le  Mercier, 
the  minister.  Mr.  Le  M.  after  that  resided  at  Dorchester,  but 
removed  again  to  Boston,  and  died  here,  March,  31,  1764, 
'  after  a  long  indisposition  of  body,  in  the  72d  year  of  his 
age.'  One  of  his  daughters  and  Mr.  Z.  Johonnot  were  joint 
executors  of  his  will.  <■ 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Puck.    You  are  too  senseless  obstinate,  my  lord, 
Too  ceremonious  and  traditional. 

Shahspeare. 

The  seventh  religious  society  formed  in  Boston  was  the 
fourth  Congregational,  or  Brattle-street  church.  '  A  number 
of  good  men,'  says  Dr.  Thacher's  century  sermon,  '  distin- 
guished for  their  liberality  of  thinking,  as  well  as  for  their 
regard  to  the  gospel  and  its  ordinances,  laid  the  foundation 
of  this  church.'  The  earliest  date,  at  which  we  find  them 
associated,  is  Jan.  10,  1698,  on  which  day  Thomas  Brattle, 
Esq.  conveyed  to  them  a  piece  of  land  called  Brattle's  close, 
which  makes  part  of  the  lot  now  in  possession  of  the  church. 
The  grantees  were  Thos.  Clark,  Thos.  Cooper,  Benja.  Wal- 
ker, Benja.  Davis,  Wm.  Keen,  Richard  Draper,  Wm.  Harris, 
Zeeh.  Tuthill,  John  Colman,  Jos.  Allen,  John  Kilby,  John 
Mico,  Thos.  Bannister,  Timo.  Clark,  Stephen  Minot,  Abr. 
Blush,  Thos.  Palmer,  James  Meers,  Elkanah  Pembroke, 
Addington  Davenport. 

'As  to  the  doctrines  of  religion,  these  good  men  did  not  differ 
professedly  from  their  brethren  of  other  churches,  while  they 
thought  that  in  some  respects  the  religious  practices  of  the 
day  might  be  improved.  Under  these  circumstances  it  was 
necessary  for  them  to  choose  a  minister,  who  agreed  with 
them  in  sentiment,'  and  accordingly,  in  the  sprftg  of  1 699, 
they  sent  a  letter  of  invitation  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Colman,  a 
native  of  Boston  and  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  who  was 
then  pursuing  his  studies  in  England.  '  From  an  apprehen- 
sion that  he  might  meet  with  difficulty  in  procuring  ordination 


IIISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  203 

here,  they  requested  him  to  ask  it  of  the  ministers  in  London, 
who  readily  granted  his  desire,  and  the  solemnity  was  atten- 
ded on  the  4th  day  of  August,  after  a  publick  lecture,  at  the 
meeting-house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Christopher  Taylor.' 

On  the  first  of  the  following  November,  Mr.  Colman  arri- 
ved at  Boston  ;  and  on  the  17th  of  that  month  a  publication 
appeared,  with  the  title  of  '  A  manifesto  or  declaration,  set 
forth  by  the' undertakers  of  the  new  church,  now  erected  in 
B.  in  N.  E.'  in  which,'  '  for  preventing  all  misapprehensions 
and  jealousies,'  they  say, '  we  think  it  convenient  to  publish 
our  aims  and  designs  herein,  together  with  those  principles 
and  rules  we  intend,  by  God's  grace,  to  adhere  unto.'  '  On 
Tuesday,  Dec.  12th,  at  a  private  meeting  at  Mr.  Mico's 
house,  after  solemn  calling  upon  God,'  the  eleven  grantees 
first  abovenamed,  with  Mr.  Brattle  and  Messrs.  John  and 
Oliver  Noyes,  united  to  form  the  church,  and  '  declared  their 
consent  and  agreement  to  walk  together  in  all  the  ordinances  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  The  24th  instant,  being  Lord's-day, 
was  agreed  upon  for  their  first  meeting  in  their  '  pleasant 
new-built  church.'  Mr.  Colman  preached  on  the  occasion 
from  2  Chron.  vi.  18.  The  '  Manifesto'  and  other  l  miscar- 
riages,' which  this  society  had  '  fallervinto,'  gave  so  great  of- 
fence, that  some  of  the  clergymen  of  the  town  refused  to  unite 
with  them  in  the  observance  of  a  day  of  prayer  ;  but  by 
some  means,  an  accommodation  took  place  prior  to  Jan.  31, 
1 700,  when  both  the  Mathers  and  Mr.  Willard  joined  with 
them  on  a  similar  occasion. 

The  doctrines  which  this  church  espoused  could  not  have 
been  exceptionable,  for  they  declare,  '  we  approve  and  sub- 
scribe the  confession  of  faith  put  forth  by  the  assembly  of 
divines  at  Westminster  ;'  but  they  introduced  some  changes 
as  to  '  modes  of  order  and  discipline,'  which  probably  were 
the  cause  of  alarm  and  dissatisfaction.  They  adopted  the 
custom  of  reading  some  part  of  the  holy  scriptures,  and  'con- 
cluded to  have  the  Lord's  prayer  used  once  in  each  season 
of  publick  worship.'  The  admission  to  full  communion  was 
deemed,  by  the  first  settlers  of  this  country,  as  matter 
of  great  importance.  The  general  opinion  was,  that  none 
should  partake  of  this  privilege  but  such  as  were  truly  born 
of  God.  '  In  order  that  the  church  might  judge  of  this  fact,  a 
relation  of  his  christian  experiences,  either  written  or  oral, 
was  required  of  every  candidate  for  this  privilege.  This 
usage  had  degenerated  into  a  matter  of  mere  form,  and  such 
a  similarity  prevailed  in  these  instruments,  as  gave  too  much 
occasion  for  ridicule.  Jn  this  church,  therefore,  the  practice 
was  disused  ;  at  least  it  was  not  required,  while  every  one 
was  left  at  liberty  to  do  it.' 


204  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

'  In  ancient  days  the  choice  of  minister  (as  well  as  the 
choice  of  civil  officers)  was  confined  to  those  who  were  in  foil 
communion  with  the  church.  In  this  respect  also  they  dif- 
fered from  the  general  practice.  "  We  cannot,  say  they, 
confine  the  right  of  choosing  a  minister  to  the  communicants 
alone,  but  we  think  that  every  baptized  adult  person,  who 
contributes  to  the  maintenance,  should  have  a  vote  in  elect- 
ing."— But  there  were  many  men,  some  from  a  reverence  to 
ancient  institutions,  and  a  convicton  of  their  propriety,  some 
from  dread  of  innovation,  and  others  from  a  fear  that  this  new 
and  popular  society  would  diminish  their  own  societies  and 
lessen  the  influence  they  held,  who  exclaimed  loudly  against 
this  new  establishment,  which  they  called,  by  way  of  deris- 
ion, the  Manifesto  church.  Respectable  and  opulent  as 
were  the  men  who  formed  it,  they  found  it  difficult  for  a  time 
to  stem  the  torrent  of  publick  opinion  which  ran  strongly 
against  them,  and  overcome  the  jealousy  which  their  neigh- 
bours felt  of  being  eclipsed  by  them.* 

Following  the  order  of  time,  we  mention  here  that 
the  By-laws  of  the  town,  which  had  been  accumulating 
for  seventy  years,  were  put  into  order  and  renewed  by  a 
vote  in  1701,  and  first  published  in  a  printed  form  in  1702. 

The  Seventh  Great  Fire  happened  in  the  year  1 702,  on  the 
11th  of  March,  near  the  dock.  Three  ware-houses  were 
blown  up  to  stop  its  progress.  The  destruction  of  property 
was  so  extensive,  as  to  be  mentioned  in  official  papers  \  as  a 
great  loss  to  the  town.' 

In  1704  the  first  newspaper  published  in  the  English  colo- 
nies in  North  America,  appeared  in  Boston.  It  was  printed 
on  half  a  sheet  of  pot  paper,  with  a  small-pica  type,  folio,  and 
was  entitled, 

$1.  3B.  Jiumfc.  x. 

The  Boston  Nows-Letter. 

From  J&0tttrag,  April  17,  to  J&OtttTSg,  April  24, 1704. 

The  proprietor's  name  was  John  Campbell,  a  Scotchman, 
who  was  established  here  as  a  bookseller.  The  imprint  is, 
"  Boston  ;  printed  by  B.  Green.      Sold   by   Nicholas   Boone, 


*  This  church  voted  to  dispense  with  the  custom  of  singing  the  psalms  in  publick  worship 
line  by  line;*  Dec.  20, 1689.  Between  1717  and  1724  they  had  a  singing  society,  which  was 
the  first  in  the  town,  that  introduced  singing  by  note.— Chli.  Rec. — Mass.  H.  C.  2.  iv.  30S> 
Also  Appendix,  No.  IV. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  105 

at  his  Shop  near  the  Old  Meeting-House."  Green  was  Camp- 
bell's printer,  and  Boone  was  for  some  weeks  his  publisher.* 

The  first  number  contained  the  following  prospectus  :■ — 
'  This  News  Letter  is  to  be  continued  Weekly  ;  and  all  Per- 
sons who  have  any  Houses,  Lands,  Tenements,  Farmes,  Ships, 
Vessels,  Goods,  Wares,  or  Merchandizes  &c.  to  be  sold  or 
Lett  ;  or  Servants  Runaway  :  or  Goods  Stoll  or  Lost  may 
have  the  same  Inserted  at  a  Reasonable  Rate  ;  from  Twelve 
Pence  to  Five  Shillings,  and  not  to  exceed  ;  Who  may  agree 
with  Nicholas  Boone  for  the  same  at  his  shop  next  door  to 
MajorDavis's,Apothecary  in  Boston  near  the  old  Meetinghouse. 

1  All  Persons  in  Town  and  Country  may  have  said  News- 
Letter  W>ekly  upon  reasonable  tearms  agreeing  with  John 
Campbell  Post  Master  for  the  same.' 

So  early  as  Dec.  8,  1&86,  the  inhabitants  at  Muddy  river 
had  obtained  an  order  from  the  president  and  council,  that 
said  hamlet  should  henceforth  be  free  from  town  rates  to  the 
town  of  Boston,  and  have  the  privilege  of  meeting  '  annually 
to  choose  three  men  to  manage  their  affairs.'  The  conditions 
were,  that  they  should  support  their  own  expenses,  erect  a 
school-house,  and  maintain  a  reading  and  writing  master. 
After  the  overthrow  of  Andros,  the  town  of  Boston  disannul- 
led this  order,  by  a  vote,  in  March,  1690,  '  that  M.  R.  inhabi- 
tants are  not  discharged  from  B.  to  be  a  hamlet  by  them- 
selves, but  stand  related  to  B.  as  they  did  before  the  year 
sixteen  hundred  and  eighty-six.'  As  the  inhabitants  there 
increased  in  numbers  and  in  wealth,  they  were  emboldened 
again  to  seek  a  complete  separation.  Accordingly,  in  March, 
1701,  they  requested  the  consent  of  Boston,  '  to  be  a  district 
or  hamlet  separate  from  the  town.'  Instead  of  granting  their 
request,  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  rigorously  exercised  over 
them  all  the  authority  they  possessed.  Finding  their  appli- 
cation to  Boston  ineffectual,  they  resolved  to  apply  to  still 
higher  powers.  They  therefore  in  June,  1704,  petitioned  the 
governour,  council,  and  assembly.  On  this,  the  inhabitants 
of  Boston  had  several  meetings,  warmly  remonstrated  against 
the  petition,  and  represented  the  request  as  highly  ingrate- 
ful  in  this  people,  after  having  experienced  so  many  favours. 
Their  petition  was  at  this  time  rejected.  They  however  per- 
sisted in  their  request,  and  in  the  summer  of  1 705,  presented 
a  petition  to  be  incorporated,  signed  by  32  freeholders,  which 
was  finally  granted,  and  the  signature  of  the  governour  to  the 
act  incorporating  them  as  a   distinct   town,  by  the   name  of 


*  At  the  time  this  paper  was  first  published,  and  for  many  years  afterward,  there  were 
licensers  of  the  press.  "  Published  by  authority,"  I  presume  means  nothing  more  than  this 
—what  appeared  in  this  publication  was  not  disapproved  by  the  licensers.— Thomas'  Hist. 
of  Printing  in  America,  ii.  191. 


206 


BISTORT    OF  BOSTON. 


Brookline,  was  passed  November  13,  1705.  It  is  supposed 
that  this  name  was  adopted  from  the  circumstance,  that 
Smelt  brook  is  a  boundary  between  that  town  and  Cam- 
bridge, and  that  another  brook,  which  falls  into  Muddy 
river,  is  a  boundary  between  it  and  Roxbury.* 


OLD  FRANKLIN  HOUSE, 
IN    MILK-STREET. 


VIEW    FROM    THE    SOUTH    SIDE    OF    THE    OLD    SOUTH    MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  year  1706  is  memorable  in  the  annals  of  Boston  for 
giving  birth  to  Benjamin  Franklin.  His  parents  were  named 
Josiah  and  Abiah  :  his  father  '  was  a  native  of  England, 
where  he  was  bred  to  the  trade  of  a  silk  dyer  ;'  but  after  set- 
tling in  Boston,  he  devoted  his  attention  to  the  business  of  a 
soap  and  tallow  chandler. 

Franklin  was  born  on  the  sixth  of  January,  and  is  recorded 
as  baptized  on  the  same  day,  in  the  Old  South  church  books. 


*  See  the  order  of  the  P.  and  C.  in  Town  Records,  1686.  We  are  also  referred  (Mass.  H. 
C.  2.  ii.  142,) '  for  this  and  all  other  information  relating  to  the  incorporation  of  Brookline, 
to  a  bundle  of  documents  on  file  in  the  secretary's  office  of  this  commonwealth,  under  the 
date  of  1705.' 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  207 

From  this  circumstance  some  have  inferred  that  he  was  born 
in  the  house,  which  lately  stood  where  the  Furniture  ware- 
house now  stands,  in  Milk-street,  nearly  opposite  the  south 
door  of  that  meeting-house,  and  where  it  is  known  that  his 
father  lived  at  some  period.  But  wc  have  the  testimony  of 
his  own  declaration  to  a  lady,  now  living,  that  the  scene  of  his 
nativity  was  at  the  sign  of  the  Blue  Ball,  corner  of  Union  and 
Hanover-streets,  where  his  father  exercised  his  trade.  The 
other  house,  however,  having  been  more  remarakble  in  its  ap- 
pearance, and  a  drawing  of  it  having  been  taken  shortly  before 
it  was  burnt  (Dec.  29,  1810,)  we  have  given  it  a  place  here. 

We  have  no  record  of  any  attempt  to  change  the  form  of 
town  government  from  that  established  in  1651  (see  p.  138) 
until  the  year  1708.  The  seven  Commissioners  were  annu- 
ally chosen  during  the  old  charter  government,  and  the  selec- 
tion was  made  from  the  most  honourable  among  the  inhabi- 
tants :  the  last  choice  was  in  August,  1691.  On  the  8th  of 
Dec.  1708,  the  selectmen  made  the  following  proposals  to  the 
town,  respecting  a  charter  of  incorporation. 

'  That  the  orders  and  by-laws  of  this  town  already  made, 
for  directing,  ordering  and  managing  the  prudential  affairs 
thereof,  have  not  answered  the  ends  for  which  they  were 
made,  and  the  principal  cause  thereof  is  a  general  defect  or 
neglect  in  the  execution,without  which  the  best  laws  will  signify 
little,  and  one  great  reason  why  they  are  no  better  executed, 
is  the  want  of  a  proper  head,  or  town-officer,  or  officers  em- 
powered for  that  purpose,  the  law  having  put  the  execution 
of  town  orders  into  the  hands  of  the  Justices  only,  who  are 
not  town,  but  county  officers  ;  and  it  cannot  be  expected 
that  they  should  take  the  trouble  and  care,  or  make  it  so  much 
their  businesses  a  town  officer  or  officers  particularly  appoint- 
ed or  chosen  thereunto  must  needs  do,  and  indeed,  for  any 
body  or  society  of  men  as  a  town  is,  to  be  vested  with  pow- 
er to  make  rules  and  by-laws  for  their  own  good  regulation, 
and  not  have  power  to  appoint  and  choose  the  head  officer  or 
officers,  who  shall  have  power  to  execute  their  own  orders 
and  by-laws,  seems  incongruous.  And  good  order  is  not  to 
be  expected  while  it  remains  so  ;  for  while  a  town  grows 
more  populous,  it  will  stand  in  need  of  a  more  strict  regula- 
tion. The  selectmen  do,  therefore,  propose  that  this  town 
do  now  choose  a  committee  of  a  considerable  number  of  the 
freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  draw  up  a 
scheme  or  draught  of  a  Charter  of  Incorporation,  [or  any 
other  projection]  for  the  encouragement  and  better  govern- 
ment of  this  town,  in  the  best  methods  as  they  shall  think  suit- 
able, and  of  the  best  and  most  suitable  means  for  procuring 
and  obtaining  thereof,  and  to  present  the  same  lo  the  town  at 
their  annual  meeting.'     Accordingly  thirty-one  of  the   most 


208  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

respectable  citizens,  including  the  selectmen,  were  chosen, 
seventeen  of  whom  were  to  be  a  quorum. 

March  14th,  1709,  the  committee  presented  a  draught  to 
the  town,  which  was  read  in  the  audience  of  the  meeting. 
On  the  question  whether  the  town  will  refer  the  consideration 
of  the  said  scheme  to  some  publick  meeting  to  be  warned  for 
the  same  purpose  ? — voted  in  the  negative.  On  the  question 
— whether  the  town  do  accept  of  the  scheme  or  charter  now 
read,  yea  or  nay  ? — voted  in  the  negative. 

Hutchinson  tells  us,  that  most  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
were  in  favour  of  the  measure.  But  the  people  entertained 
the  opinion  of  a  champion,  who,  when  the  subject  was  dis- 
cussed in  town-meeting,  concluded  his  speech  with  the  pro- 
phetick  warning,  "  It  is  a  whelp  now,  it  will  be  a  Lion  by 
and  by  :  knock  it  in  the  head  :  Mr.  Moderator,  put  the  ques- 
tion." His  hearers  were  ready,  and  the  plan  was  rejected 
by  a  great  majority,  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  gentlemen, 
on  whom  they  had  imposed  the  labour  of  preparing  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

"  higher  still 


The  blazing  tide  rose  awfully." 


Mr.  Henry  Deering  had  proposed  to  the  town  '  to  build 
a  house  to  contain  several  offices,  and  a  wharf  below  the 
Townhouse-street,'  in  December,  1707,  but  it  does  not  appear 
that  he  met  with  any  encouragement.  The  subject  was  re- 
newed in  1709,  by  Dr.  Oliver  Noyes  and  others,  and  the 
town  referred  the  consideration  of  it  to  the  selectmen,  who 
made  the  following  report  on  the  10th  of  March,  1 7i 0. 

'  Whereas  the  selectmen  for  the  year  past  were  by  a  vote 
of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  at  their  publick  meeting  on  the 
19th  day  of  Dec.  last  past,  appointed  a  committee  to  consider 
the  proposals  of  Capt.  Oliver  Noyes  and  some  other  gentle- 
men, about  their  building  out  a  wharf  from  the  lower  end  of 
King-street  down  to  low-water  mark,  and  to  make  report  to 
the  next  town-meeting  of  what  they  shall  think  proper  for  the 
town  to  do  concerning  the  same,  the  said  committee  have  now 
presented  their  report  thereof,  and  is  as  followeth,  viz. 

'  We  are  of  opinion  that  the  proposal  made  by  Dr.  Oliver 
Noyes  and  other  gentlemen,  now  signed  by  them  and  given 
in  to  the  town  at  this  meeting,  will  be  a  means  to  have  the 
out-wharves  brought  into  good  repair,   the  doing  of  which^ 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  209 

with  the  planting  of  guns  as  proposed,  may  be  a  great  safety 
to  this  town,  in  case  of  the  attack  of  an  enemy,  and  will  be  of 
publick  and  general  good  to  the  town,  Provided  the  underta- 
kers be  under  penalty  to  perform  what  they  have  there  pro- 
posed and  what  is  intended,  viz.  that  the  street  shall  forever 
be  open,  its  full  breadth,  from  the  end  of  King-street  to  the 
Circular  line,  and  be  no  ways  incumbered  by  them. 

'  The  aforementioned  proposals  made  by  Dr.  Oliver  Noyes 
and  other  gentlemen,  signed  by  them  and  given  in  to  the  town 
at  this  meeting,  and  being  read  are  as  follow eth,  viz. 

'  We  the  subscribers,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Boston,  do  hereby  promise  and  engage,  that  we  and  our 
associates  will  at  our  own  cost  and  charge  erect  and  build  a 
wharf  with  a  sufficient  common  sewer,  at  the  approbation  of 
the  selectmen,  at  the  end  of  King-street  to  the  Circular  Line, 
as  delineated  by  the  plan,  and  that  from  thence  we  will  erect, 
build,  and  maintain  a  wharf,  the  width  of  King-street,  between 
Mr.  [East]  Apthorp's  and  Mr.  [Andrew]  Faneuil's,  and  con- 
tinue the  same  in  a  direct  line  to  the  [out]  wharves,  common- 
ly called  the  new  wharves,  and  unto  low-water  mark,  leaving 
always  a  way  of  30  feet  wide,  on  one  of  the  sides  thereof,  as 
a  highway  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  and 
others,  and  to  extend  from  one  end  of  the  same  unto  the 
other,  forever  ;  and  leaving  a  gap  of  16  ft.  wide,  covered 
over,  for  lighters  and  boats  to  pass  and  repass,  about  the  mid- 
dle of  said  wharf,  or  where  the  selectmen  shall  direct,  as  also 
a  passage  way  on  the  new  wharves,on  each  side,for  carts,etc. 
leaving  the  end  of  said  wharf  free  for  the  town,  when  they 
shall  see  reason  to  plant  guns  for  the  defence  of  said  town. 

'  In  consideration  whereof,  the  freeh.  and  other  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  B.  shall,  do,  give,  grant,  bargain,  enfeoffee,  and 
confirm  unto  us,  the  said  subscribers,  our  heirs,  assignees,  and 
associates  forever,  the  said  wharf  or  flats,  to  be  maintained 
as  aforesaid,  unto  low-water  mark,  with  all  the  liberties,  priv- 
ileges, commodities,  and  appurtenances  whatsoever,  thereunto 
belonging,  to  our  only,  proper,  and  absolute  use  and  behoof 
forever  :  and  that  the  town  of  B.  shall  always  defend  us  in 
the  possession  and  peaceable  improvement  of  the  granted 
premises  from  any  claim  of  the  town,  etc.  And  that  no  wharf 
beyond  the  said  Circular  Line  be  permitted  to  join  or  come 
nearer  to  us  than  sixty  ft.  forever  ;  and  we  do  engage  and 
promise  to  finish  said  wharf  within  the  space  of  four  years 
next  after  the  date  of  the  grant,  if  the  right  of  the  outwharves 
for  120  ft.  where  this  line  will  fall  can  be  procured  by  us. 
In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands,  the  20th 
day  of  Feb.  anno  reginae  viii.  A.  D.  1709 — 10. 

Oliver  Noyes,         James  Barnes,       John  Gerrish, 
Daniel  Oliver,        John  George.         Anthony  Stoddard." 
27 


210  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Whereupon  the  town  voted  '  a  grant  to  Capt.  O.  N.  and 
company,  according  to  their  said  proposals  and  the  commit- 
tee's report,  so  as  not  to  prejudice  former  grants.1  The  se- 
lectmen were  empowered  to  execute  proper  instruments  in 
writing  for  confirming  the  grant,  which  they  did  on  the  13th 
of  May.  The  work  was  accomplished  within  the  time 
limited. 

In  the  same  year,  1710,  it  was  voted,  that  a  line  of  defence 
be  forthwith  made  across  the  neck  between  Boston  and  Rox- 
bury.  This  constituted  the  Fortifications,  which  were  con- 
structed of  stone  and  brick  work  for  a  foundation,'  with  a 
parapet  of  sod  work.  A  convenient  number  of  great  guns 
were  ordered  to  be  placed  there,  and  a  gate  extended  across 
the  road. 

Something  like  the  rudiments  of  a  Post  Office  is  discovera- 
ble in  the  colony  records,  May,  1677,  when  upon  petition  of 
several  merchants  of  Boston,  the  court  appointed  Mr.  John 
Hayward,  scrivener, '  to  take  in  and  convey  letters  according 
to  their  direction.'  And  the  office  of  post-master  appears  to 
have  been  regulated  by  the  colonial  government  until  1710, 
when  an  act  of  parliament  established  the  office  of  P.  M.  gen- 
eral, who  had  liberty  to  keep  one  chief  letter  office  in  New 
York,  and  others  at  other  convenient  places  in  America. 
Campbell,  the  publisher  of  the  News-Letter,  who  had  been  in 
the  office  for  several  years,  was  appointed  at  Boston.  In 
1711,  a  southern  and  eastern  mail,  to  Plymouth  and  Maine, 
ran  once  a  week,  and  a  western  mail  to  Conn,  and  N.  Y.  once 
a  fortnight. 

The  prosperity  of  Boston,  which  seemed  now  to  be  grow- 
ing rapidly,  received  a  check  this  year  by  a  fire,  that  broke 
out  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  October  2d,  about  7  o'clock. 
It  originated  in  a  building  belonging  to  Capt.  Ephraim  Sav- 
age, in  Williams's  Court,  from  the  carelessness  of  a  poor 
woman,  one  Mary  Morse,  who  suffered  the  fire  '  to  catch  the 
oakum,  which  she  was  employed  in  picking  of.'  All  the 
houses  on  both  sides  of  Cornhill,  from  School-street  to  the 
Dock-square,  were  laid  in  ruins  The  wind  being  southerly, 
the  meeting-house  of  the  First  Church  was  early  found  to  be 
in  danger,  and  some  sailors  went  up  into  the  steeple  or  cupola 
to  save  the  bell.  Whilst  they  were  engaged  in  this  service, 
the  house  was  on  fire  below,  and  the  stairs  were  consumed. 
They  were  seen  at  work  just  before  the  roof  fell  in,  and  all 
perished  in  the  flames.  All  the  upper  part  of  King,  or  what 
is  now  called  State-street,  together  with  the  Town-house,  was 
lost,  and  some  desolation  made  in  Pudding-lane  (Devonshire- 
street),  and  between  Water-street  and  Spring-lane,  before  the 
violence  of  the  flames  could  be  conquered.  There  were  then 
but  two  engines  in  the  town,  and  the  method  taken  to  stop  the 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  211 

progress  of  the  fire,  by  blowing  up  the  houses,  had  a  contrary 
effect,  and  served  to  scatter  it.  The  number  of  houses  des-  t 
troyed  was  computed  near  a  hundred,  and,  by  the  best  ac-  V 
count,  about  a  hundred  and  ten  families  were  turned  out  of 
doors.  It  being  also  a  place  of  much  trade,  and  filled  with 
well-furnished  shops  of  goods,  not  a  little  of  the  wealth  of  the 
town  was  now  consumed.  The  rubbish  from  the  ruins  was 
used  to  fill  up  the  Long-wharf. 

The  houses  which  were  built  after  this  fire  '  were  of  brick, 
three  stories  high,  with  a  garret,  a  flat  roof,  and  balustrade.' 
Some  of  them  remain  on  each  side  of  Cornhill ;  one,  now 
numbered  38  Washington-street,  bears  the  date  of  1712  on 
the  front,  with  a  coat  of  arms  and  the  letters  S- 1- 

The  First  Church  commenced  building  on  the  same  spot 
where  their  old  house  had  stood,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1712. 
They  erected  a  large  brick  edifice  of  three  stories  in  height, 
which  was  ready  for  use,  and  the  first  service  performed  in  it 
May  3,  1713.* 

The  general  court  at  their  next  session  after  the  fire,  pass- 
ed a  law  creating  the  Board  of  Firewards,  whose  number 
was  originally  ten.  We  recognize  their  symbol  of  authority 
in  the  badge  of  '  a  staff  of  five  feet  in  length,  coloured  red, 
and  headed  with  a  bright  brass  spire  of  six  inches  long.'  The 
same  court  also  proposed  a  plan  for  rebuilding  the  Town- 
house, which  was  concurred  in  by  the  town,  Nov.  16,  1711. 
The  Province  was  to  bear  one  half  of  the  expense,  the  county 
of  Suffolk  and  town  of  Boston  each  one  quarter.  The  house  y 
was  so  far  finished,  that  a  town-meeting  was  held  in  it,  March 
8,  1714. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

To  know,  and  knowing  worship  God  aright, 
Is  yet  more  kingly  :  this  attracts  the  soul, 
Governs  the  inner  man,  the  nobler  part. 

Paradise  Regained. 


In  the  winter  of  1712,  seventeen  substantial  mechanicks  as- 
sociated for  the  purpose  of  establishing  another  church  at  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  which,  when  formed,  they  named  the 
New  North  Church.     Their  first  meeting  was  at  the  house  of 


*  This  being  the  first  Congregational  meeting-house  built  of  brick,  obtained  in  time  the 
name  of  the  Old  Brick.  It  stood  till  the  year  1808  ;  the  last  service  being  performed  in  it 
on  the  17th,  and  the  first  in  the  house  in  Chauncy-place  on  the  21st,  of  July,  in  that  year. 


212  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Matthew  Butler,  who  seems  to  have  been  the  father  of  the 
association,  and  whose  descendants  have  formed  a  part  of  the 
society  to  the  present  time.  The  projectors  were  joined  by 
others,  and  obtained  liberty  of  the  proper  authority  to  erect 
a  wooden  building.*  They  procured  a  lot  of  land  of  Col. 
Thomas  Hutchinson,  at  the  corner  of  Hanover  and  Clark- 
streets,  set  up  a  house  of  small  dimensions,  and  finished  it, 
"  as  is  observed  in  an  ancient  manuscript,  without  the  assist- 
ance of  the  more  weaithj'  part  of  the  community,  excepting 
what  they  derived  from  their  prayers  and  good  wishes." 

The  house  was  dedicated  on  the  5th  of  May,  1714.  The 
two  Dr.  Mathers  officiated  in  the  ceremonies  of  giving  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  new  church,  and  the  prayers 
were  as  usual  on  such  occasions.  On  the  evening  of  the 
same  day,  the  church  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Butler  and  sign- 
ed their  covenant.  On  the  2d  of  August  they  came  to  the 
choice  of  a  pastor.  At  the  first  trial,  the  suffrages  were  divi- 
ded between  Mr.  John  Barnard  and  Mr.  John  Webb.  The 
majority  was  for  Mr.  Webb  :  on  a  second  trial,  he  had  a 
unanimous  vote.  The  election  was  immediately  communica- 
ted to  the  congregation,  who  were  convened  in  another  place, 
and  they  "  universally"  concurred  in  the  choice.  An  invita- 
tion was  presented  on  the  4th  and  accepted  on  the  27th  of  the 
same  month,  and  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Webb  took  place  on 
the  20th  of  October  following.  Dr.  1.  Mather  acted  as  mod- 
erator, Dr.  C.  M.  made  the  first  prayer,  and  the  pastor  elect 
preached.  The  covenant  was  read  and  acknowledged  :  the 
church  confirmed  their  choice,  and  Mr.  Webb  his  accept- 
ance ;  the  moderator  then  gave  the  charge,  and  his  son  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  the  exercises  were  closed  with 
singing  and  a'  blessing. 

The  seventeen  first  associates  were,  Solomon  and  Elias 
Townsend,  Erasmus  Stevens,  Moses  Pierce,  Caleb  Lyman, 
Alex'r.  Sears,  Eben.  Clough,  John  Goldthwait,  Sam.  Gard- 
ner, Wm.  Parkman,  John  Bassett,  Joshua  Cheever,  Matthew 
Butler, — John  Pecker,  Isaac  Pierce,  John  Goff',  and  James 
Barnard.  The  first  thirteen,  together  with  Mr.  Webb,  Benja. 
Gerrish,  Nath.  Kenney  and  Lately  Gee,  were  the  original 
signers  of  the  church  covenant.! 

At  the  session  of  the  general  court,  July,  1715,  a  law  was 
passed  '  that  there  be  a  Light-house  erected  at  the  charge  of 
the  province  on  the  southernmost  part  of  the  Great  Brewster, 
called  Beacon  Island,  to  be  kept  lighted  from  sunset  to  sun- 
rising.' 

*  The  governour  might  grant  a  licence  on  certificate  of  approbation  from  the-  justices  of 
peace  and  selectmen  of  Boston,  by  the  law  of  1699. 
t  See  Appendix,  No.  IV.— Historical  Notices  of  the  New  North. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  213 

The  formation  of  the  New  South  Church  and  Society  was 
the  next  event  of  moment.  The  first  meeting  on  the  subject 
was  '  at  the  Bull  [tavern,  in  Summer-street]  in  Boston,  on 
Thursday,  the  14th  of  July,  1715,'  when  it  was  voted,  '  that 
the  money  received  of  Mr.  Nath.  Glover,  except  the  charges 
arising  thereon,  viz.  the  balance,  be  given  towards  the  erect- 
ing a  meeting-house  at  the  south-end  of  Boston,  where  the 
major  part  of  the  proprietors  [in  Mr.  G.'s  donation  ?]  shall  be 
concerned.'  Forty-four  subscribers  were  soon  found  to  en- 
gage in  '  so  good  a  work,'  and  '  a  petition  was  drawn  and 
presented  to  the  town,  on  Tuesday,  the  20th  of  Sept.  1715, 
and  was  as  follows  : 

'  To  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,  the  petition  of 
sundry  inhabitants  at  the  southerly  end  of  Boston,  showeth, 
That  whereas  we  the  subscribers  have  entered  into  a  design, 
if  wre  obtain  leave,  to  erect  a  meeting-house  for  the  publick 
worship  of  God  at  the  south  end  of  Boston,  therefore  desire 
a  grant  from  this  town  of  that  piece  or  parcel  of  land,  called 
Church  Green,  in  Summer-street,  for  the  erecting  a  meet- 
ing-house of  65  ft.  long  and  45  ft.  broad,  it  being  a  suitable 
place  for  that  service,  and  by  the  situation  and  name  thereof 
intended,  no  doubt,  by  our  forefathers  for  that  purpose,  and 
pray  that  the  present  selectmen  of  the  town  may  be  empow- 
ered to  make  a  conveyance  to  the  undertakers  underwritten. 
Subscribed  by  Thomas  Peck,  Nicholas  Boon,  Samuel  Adams, 
Eneas  Salter,  jun.  Sam'l  Greenleaf,  Henry  Hill,  Jona.  Simp- 
son, Eleaz.  Dorby,  David  Craige,  Wm.  Engs,  Eneas  Salter, 
Thomas  Salter,  John  Barton,  Daniel  Legre.' 

The  town  granted  the  petition, '  Provided  the  said  meeting- 
house be  erected  and  improved  to  that  use  within  the  space 
of  three  years  next  ensuing.'  This  was  done,  and  the  dedi- 
cation took  place  on  the  8th  of  Jan.  1717.  Rev.Benj.  Wads- 
worth  of  the  Old  South  and  Cotton  Mather  both  preached. 
Copies  of  their  sermons  were  desired  and  published. .  Jan. 
11,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  supply  the  pulpit,  with  au- 
thority to  allow  205.  for  each  sermon.  Sept.  24,  1718,  Mr. 
Samuel  Checkley,  of  Boston,  was  unanimously  chosen  out  of 
several  candidates,  and  invited  to  become  pastor  of  this 
church.  He  accepted,  and  was  ordained,  April  15,  1719. 
The  covenant  was  signed  on  the  same  day,  by  H.  Hill,  T. 
Peck,  John  Clough,  T.  Salter,  S.  Adams,  Sam'l.  Bridgham, 
Benja.  White,  and  Thos.  Downe.* 

*  Covenant  of  the  New  South  Church. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  apprehending  ourselves  called  of  God  to  joyne 
together  in  church  communion,  and  acknowledging  our  unworthiness  of  such  a  priviledge, 
and  our  inability  to  keep  covenant  with  God,  or  to  perform  any  spiritual  duty,  unless  Christ 
shall  enable  us  thereunto  ;  doe  (humbly  depending  on  free  grace  for  assistance  and    accep- 


214  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  Sixth  Congregational  church  originated  in  a  difficulty 
respecting  the  settlement  of  a  colleague  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Webb,  of  the  New  North.  Preparatory  to  that  step,  the 
church  had  adopted  the  following  regulations,  on  the  13th  of 
May,  1719.  "  First,  the  church  shall  go  before  and  lead  in 
the  choice,  according  to  the  professed  principles  and  practice 
of  the  churches  in  N.  E. — 2d.  Since  the  edification  of  the 
brethren  of  the  congregation  is  to  be  considered  on  such  an 
occasion,  we  are  willing  they  should  join  with  us  in  the  call 
of  a  minister  :  that  is  to  say,  after  the  church  have  expressed 
their  satisfaction  with  any  particular  person,  we  are  willing 
that  a  major  vote  of  the  church  and  congregation,  assembled 
together,  as  is  usual  in  country  towns,  shall  determine  wheth- 
er the  person,  first  chosen  as  aforesaid  by  the  church,  be 
finally  settled  in  the  pastoral  office  over  us.  And  we  all  of 
us  promise  to  make  ourselves  easy,  and  sit  down  contented 
by  such  determination,  and  purpose  by  the  grace  of  God  to 
do  so,  unless  some  weighty  and  conscientious  reason  oblige  us 
to  the  contrary  :  but  upon  this  condition,  that  our  brethren 
of  the  congregation  are  willing  to  act  upon  the  same  princi- 
ples and  to  submit  to  the  same  rules."  And  those  persons 
were  to  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  voting,  who  had  been  con- 
stant hearers  and  contributors  towards  ihe  support  of  publick 
worship,  and  should  sign  a  declaration  of  their  assent  to  the 
above  rule. 

The  9th  of  September  following  was  set  apart  as  a  day  of 
prayer,  and  as  soon  as  the  exercises  of  the  day  were  ended, 
the  members  of  the  church  proceeded  to  cast  their  votes  ; 
but  lest  there  should  be  a  breach  upon  the  solemnities  of  the 
day,  they  were  sealed  up,  without  examination.    On  the  morn- 


tance)  in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  and  in  the  presence  of  God  himself,  the  blessed 
angels,  and  all  his  servants  here  present,  freely  covenant,  and  solemnly  bind  ourselves,  to 
serve  the  God,  whose  name  alone  is  Jehovah,  Father,  Son,  and  holy  Ghost,  the  only  living 
and  true  God  ;  cleaving-  to  him,  as  our  chief  good,  and  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  our 
only  Saviour,  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  of  our  souls,  in  a  way  of  Gospel  obedience  ;  avouch- 
ing the  Lord  to  be  our  God,  and  the  God  of  our  children,  whom  we  give  unto  him,  counting 
it,  as  a  high  favour,  that  the  Lord  will  accept  of  us,  and  our  children  with  us,  to  be  his 
people.  We  do  also  give  ourselves,  one  unto  another,  in  the  Lord  ;  covenanting  to  walk 
together,  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  In  all  the  ways  of  his  worship — according  to  the  rules  given 
us  in  his  holy  word  ;  promising,  in  brotherly  love,  faithfully  to  watch  over  one  another's 
souls,  and  to  submit  ourselves  to  the  discipline  and  power  of  Christ,  in  his  Church,  and  duly 
to  attend  the  Seals  and  Censures,  or  whatever  ordinances,  Christ  has  commanded  to  be  ob- 
served by  his  people,  so  far,  as  the  Lord,  by  his  word,  and  Spirit,  has  or  shall  reveal  unto 
us,  to  be  our  duty  ;  beseeching  the  Lord,  to  own  us  for  his  people,  and  to  delight  to  dwell  in 
the  midst  of  us  ;  and  that  we  may  keep  our  Covenant  with  God,  we  desire  to  deny  our- 
selves, and  to  depend  entirely  on  the  free  mercy  of  God,  and  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  wherein  we  shall  fail,  to  wait  on  him  for  pardon,  through  his  name  ;  beseeching  the 
Lord,  to  own  us  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  and  to  delight  to  abide  in  the  midst  of  us. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  215 

mg  of  the  10th,  the  church  met,  when  the  votes  were  count- 
ed, and  the  Rev.  Peter  Thacher  had  34  out  of  44.  On  the 
16th  day  of  the  same  month,  the  congregation  met,  by  desire, 
to  express  their  concurrence,  if  it  might  be,  with  the  vote  of 
the  church.  When  the  question  was  proposed  to  the  conven- 
tion, a  protest  against  the  proceedings  was  produced,  signed 
by  6  members  of  the  church  and  39  of  the  congregation,  in 
which  they  charged  the  church  '  with  the  base  design  of  en- 
snaring them,'  by  the  vote  passed  professedly  in  favour  of  the 
congregation.  They  refused  to  leave  this  memorial  of  their 
grievances,  and  probably  retired,  as  the  records  state  that  the 
other  brethren  brought  in  their  votes,  which  were  46,  and  all 
for  Mr.  Thacher. 

The  27th  of  Jan.  1720  was  appointed  for  the  installation. 
The  five  Congregational  churches  in  Boston,  the  first  in  Sa- 
lem, and  those  at  Cambridge,  Dorchester,  Romney-Marsh, 
and  Milton,  were  invited  to  attend.  A  few  days  before  the 
time  appointed  for  the  installation,  '  the  aggrieved  brethren,7 
by  the  advice  of  Boston  ministers,  proposed  that  their  differ- 
ences should  be  referred  to  a  council.  The  church  declined 
acceding  to  the  proposal,  on  account  of  the  time  and  manner 
in  which  it  was  brought  forward. 

The  appointed  day  arrived,  and  not  one  of  the  Boston  min- 
isters appeared  to  sit  in  the  council  :  of  those  invited  from  the 
neighbouring  towns,  only  Mr.  Cheever  from  Romney  Marsh, 
and  Mr.  Peter  Thacher  of  Milton  came  ;  one  with  the  con- 
sent of  his  church,  accompanied  by  delegates,  the  other, 
alone,  in  opposition  to  the  vote  of  his  church.  They  met  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Webb,  which  was  at  the  corner  of  North 
Bennet  and  Salem-streets.  The  aggrieved  brethren  were  as- 
sembled at  the  house  of  Thomas  Lee,  Esq.  which  is  the  house 
in  N.  Bennet-street,  next  to  the  Universal  meeting-house,  and 
was  to  be  passed,  if  the  council  should  use  the  common  streets 
to  get  to  the  New  North.  A  deputation  from  the  aggrieved 
brethren  waited  upon  the  council,  with  a  remonstrance  against 
their  proceeding  to  business,  which  they  wished  to  prevent, 
peaceably,  if  they  could  :  if  that  could  not  be  done,  they  had 
resolved  to  prevent  the  council  from  going  to  the  meeting- 
house, by  force. 

After  some  consideration  and  debate,  the  council  resolved, 
that  there  was  nothing  offered  or  objected,  which  was  of  suf- 
ficient weight  to  prevent  their  proceeding  to  business.  As 
going  through  the  publick  streets  was  likely  to  produce  con- 
fusion and  uproar,  Mr.  Webb,  after  notifying  the  church  that 
the  council  were  ready,  led  them  out  of  a  back  gate  into 
Love-lane  (now  Tileston-street),  and  through  an  alley  (Rob- 
inson) which  opens  immediately  opposite  to  the  meeting-house, 
and  thus  got  quiet  possession  of  the  pulpit.     The  house  was 


216  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

nearly  filled  with  a  promiscuous  multitude,  among  wbom  were 
some  of  the  aggrieved.  These  began  to  raise  a  clamour,  and 
sent  for  their  friends  at  Mr.  Lee's,  who  ran  to  the  house  in  a 
tumultuous  manner,  forced  their  way  into  the  galleries,  and 
in  a  menacing  style  forbade  the  proceedings.  Some  were 
very  unruly  and  indecent,  almost  beyond  credibility.  Si- 
lence was  repeatedly  ordered  without  effect. 

The  council  at  length  determined  to  go  on,  in  the  best 
manner  they  could.  Mr.  Cheever  put  the  question  to  such 
members  of  the  church  as  were  present,  who  were  about  40, 
'  Whether  they  confirmed  their  call  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thach- 
er  V  which  being  passed  in  the  affirmative,  Mr.  T.  then  pub- 
lickly  declared  his  acceptance  of  the  invitation.  Mr.  C. 
thereupon  proclaimed  '  the  Rev.  Peter  Thacher  to  be  the 
pastor  of  the  New  North  church,  regularly  introduced  to  the 
charge.' 

The  disturbance  being  still  continued,  the  disaffected  party 
were  called  upon  to  say  what  they  wished  for.  One  of  them 
answered,  k  that  the  matters  in  dispute  might  be  heard  and 
considered  by  a  council.'  The  Rev.  Messrs.  W.  and  T. 
with  the  members  of  the  church,  severally  assented  to  the 
proposal.  Mr.  Thacher,  of  Milton,  then  made  a  prayer  ;  the 
newly  inducted  pastor  preached  a  sermon,  prayed  afterwards, 
and  the  assembly  was  dismissed  with  a  blessing. 

On  the  next  day,  Mr.  Webb  sent  to  every  one  of  the  disaf- 
fected brethren  of  the  church,  in  number  nine  or  ten,  to  meet 
at  his  house,  in  order  to  adjust  the  business  of  convening  a 
council.  Four  only  appeared,  and  they  refused  to  have  any 
thing  to  do  about  it.  The  plan  of  forming  another  church 
began  to  be  contemplated. 

The  discontented  members  had  made  preparations  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  meeting-house,  as  appears  from  the  follow- 
ing record  : — '  Sundry  of  the  north  end  of  the  town,  being 
moved  by  the  Providence  of  God  for  to  build  a  house  for  the 
publick  worship  of  God,  met  sundry  times  for  the  promoting 
of  said  work,  and  (Nov.  14,  1719)  at  a  meeting  of  Alex'r 
Sears,  Solo.  Townsend,  John  Waldo,  Owen  Harris,  James 
Tileston,  Nath.  Jarvis,  Thomas  Lee,  Jona.  Mountfort,  Wm. 
Arnold,  Thaddeus  Macarty,  James  Pecker,  Eben'r  Bridge, 
Benj.  Edwards,  Peter  PaDillon,  Thos.  Dogget,  Daniel  Ballard, 
Rob't  Oring,  Edw.  Pell,  Sam'l  Burnell,  Fras.  Parnell,  Jas. 
Barnes,  Jas.  Halsy,  Ephr'm  Moore,  they  voted  that  some  of 
them  should  treat  with  Mr.  Thomas  Ptoby,  of  Cambridge,  for 
a  certain  tract  or  piece  of  land,  it  being  the  land  that  the 
meeting-house  now  standeth  on.'  December  20th,  a  building 
committee  was  appointed,  and  the  number  of  proprietors  in- 
creased to   forty  before  the  work  was  completed.     Mr.  Eel- 


HISTOUY    OF    BOSTON.  217 

ward  Pell  drew  the  plan  of  the  house,*  which  was  dedicated 
on  the  10th  of  May,  1 721.  A  churchj  was  gathered  among 
the  worshippers,  on  Wednesday,  the  23d  of  May,  1722  ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Mr.  William  Waldron  was  ordained  the  first 
pastor. 


*  The  same  house  is  now  occupied  by  the  Second  and  Sixth,  united  as  the  Second  Con- 
gregational Church.  It  was  proposed  by  some  to  denominate  it  the  Revenge  Church,  but 
instead  thereof  it  obtained  the  name  of  North  Brick,  and  afterwards  of  New  Brick.  The 
figure  of  a  cock  was,  however,  placed  as  a  vane  upon  the  steeple,  in  derision  of  Mr.Thacher 
whose  christian  name  was  Peter. 

t  A.  Sears,  S.  Townsend,  J.  Waldo,  Moses  Pierce,  J.  Tilestone,  Josiab  Baker,  from  the 
New  North,  together  with  Win.  Lee,  Nath.  Loring,  Daniel  Pecker,  and  Henry  Wheeler 
and  Wm.  Waldron,  were  the  original  signers  of  the   Covenant  of  the  New  Brick  church* 

Covenant  of  the  New  Brick  Church. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  sub.  apprehending  ourselves  called  of  God  into  a  chh.  state 
of  the  gospel,  do  first  of  all  confess  ourselves  to  be  unworthy  to  be  so  highly  favoured  of  the 
Lord,  and  admire  that  free  and  rich  grace  of  his,  wh.  triumphs  in  weakn.  and  unworthin.  and 
then  with  an  humble  reliance  upon  the  aids  of  grace,  promised  to  them  that  are  conscious  of 
their  own  inability  to  do  any  good  tiling  and  humbly  wait  on  the  L.  for  the  addition  of  this 
thing  : — We  now  thankfully  lay  hold  on  his  cov.  and  would  choose  the  things  that  please 
him. — We  declare  our  serious  belief  of  the  christian  religion,  as  contained  in  the  S.  S.  and 
heartily  resolve  to  conform  our  lives  to  the  rules  of  that  holy  r.  as  long  as  we  live  in  this 
world. — We  give  up  ourselves  to  the  L.  Jehovah,  who  is  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 
and  avouch  this  day  to  be  our  G.  our  Leader,  and  receive  him  us  our  portion. — We  give  up 
ourselves  to  the  blessed  Jesus,  who  is  the  L.  Jehovah  and  adhere  to  him,  as  the  L.  of  his  peo- 
ple in  the  cov.  of  God,  and  rely  on  him  as  our  prophet,  priest,  and  king,  to  bring  us  to  et. 
blessedness. — We  ackn.  ourselves  under  inevitable  obligations  to  glorify  G.  in  all  the  duties 
of  a  godly,  sober  life,  and  esp.  in  the  duties  of  a  chh.  state  in  obedience  to  Christ,  and  the 
enjoym.  of  him  in  all  the  ord.  of  the  gospel :  and  we  therefore  depend  on  his  gracious  assist- 
ance for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  thus  incumbent  on  us. — We  desire  and  intend, 
and  (depending  upon  promised  grace)  we  engage  to  walk  together  as  a  chh.  of  the  L.  J.  C. 
in  the  f.  and  order  of  the  gospel,  so  far  as  we  shall  have  the  same  revealed  to  us,  conscien- 
tiously attending  the  worship  of  G.  the  sacraments  of  the  N.  T.  the  discipline  of  his  kdm. 
and  all  his  holy  institutions,  in  communion  with  one  another,  lovingly  watching  over  one  an- 
other, and  watchfully  avoiding  all  sinful  stumbling  blocks  and  contentions,  as  becomes  a  p. 
professing  godlin.  called  of  the  L.  into  such  a  holy  cov.  relation  with  G.  and  one  another. — 
We  do  also  at  the  same  time  present  and  offer  our  seed  to  the  L.  purposing  with  divine  help 
to  do  our  part  in  methods  of  a  religious  edu.  training  ym.  up  in  the  way  of  the  L.  that  so 
they  may  be  his. — We  do  all  this,  flying  to  the  blood  of  the  ev.  cov.  for  the  pdn.  of  our  sins 
and  past  failings,  praying  that  the  glorious  L.  who  is  the  sh.  of  his  sheep,  would  prepare  and 
strengthen  us  for  every  good  work,  working  ia  us  that  which  will  be  well  pi.  in  his  sight,  to 
whom  be  glory  forever.  Amen. 
See  Rev.  Mr.  Ware's  Discourses 
9R 


218  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Of  newspapers  a  constant  feast, 
And  something  there  to  every  taste. 

Carrier's  Address. 

'  The  second  newspaper  which  made  its  appearance  in 
British  America  was  the  Boston  Gazette,  which  was  first  pub- 
lished for  Wm.  Brooker,  who  succeeded  Campbell  as  post* 
master.  No.  1  was  issued  from  the  press  on  Monday,  Dec. 
21,  1719,  on  a  half  sheet  of  printing  foolscap,  on  a  small-pica 
type,  folio  ;  and  it  was  continued  on  a  half  sheet  of  that  size 
of  paper  for  several  years,  excepting  occasionally  a  whole 
sheet,  and  then  one  page  was  often  left  blank.  It  had  a  cut 
of  a  ship  on  the  left,  and  one  of  a  postman  on  the  right  of 
the  title,  and  was  "  published  by  authority."  Its  imprint  was, 
"  Boston  :  printed  by  J.  Franklin,  and  may  be  had  at  the 
Post  Office,  where  advertisements  are  taken  in."  There 
were  three  Boston  Gazettes  in  succession  before  the  revo- 
lution.    This  was  the  first  of  them.' 

The  people  of  Boston  had  suffered  severely  at  five  differ- 
ent periods*  from  the  small  pox,  prior  to  1721.  Nineteen 
years  had  intervened  since  its  last  appearance,  when  it  was 
introduced  a  sixth  time,  by  the  Sal  Tortugas  fleet,  in  April  of 
that  year.  More  than  half  of  the  inhabitants  were  probably 
liable  to  it.  It  continued  its  ravages  till  the  spring  of  IT 22, 
when  the  following  account  was  taken. 


Number  of  inhabitants  above  the  Mill-creek 

- 

- 

6018 

„                  „               at           North  end 

- 

" 

4549=10,567 

Of  these,  had  the  small  pox  S.  of  Mill-creek 

- 

- 

3217 

„                  „               at            North  end 

- 

- 

2596=  5,813 

Died- 

-s. 

490 

55 

N. 

281=      771 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  practice  of  inoculation  was  in- 
troduced. Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston  '  is  known  to  be  the  first 
physician  in  the  British  dominions  that  dared  to  do  it.'  He 
commenced  with  his  own  family,  inoculating  his  son  Thomas 
and  two  of  his  servants  on  the  26th  of  June  :  and  he  met 
with  success,  which  at  that  time  seemed  wonderful.  The 
clergy  of  the  town  supported  and  encouraged  him,  but  the 
physicians  joined  the  populace  and  opposed  the  practice  with 

*  In  1649,  '66,  '78-79,  '89-90,  1702. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  219 

all  possible  vehemence.  By  Dr.Boylston's  account  it  appears 
that  of  5759,  who  had  had  the  disease  in  the  natural  way, 
844  died  ;  whereas  of  247  cases  attended  by  himself,  and  39 
by  Drs.  Roby  of  Cambridge  and  Thompson  of  Charlestown, 
only  six  terminated  fatally. 

A  third  newspaper  appeared  on  Monday,  August  17,  1721. 
It  was  the  New  England  Cow-ant,  printed  and  published  by 
James  Franklin,  on  a  half  sheet  of  crown  size  printing  paper, 
on  a  small-pica  type.  Imprint,  '  Boston  :  Printed  by  James 
Franklin,  in  Queen-street,  where  advertisements  are  taken  in.' 
We  suppose  it  to  have  been  at  the  Franklin  Head,  Court- 
street.  The  Courant  contained  very  little  news  and  very  few 
advertisements.  More  than  half  the  paper  was,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, filled  weekly  with  essays,  in  which  men  in  office, 
the  clergy,  and  the  prevailing  religious  opinions  of  the  day 
were  attacked.  A  society  of  gentlemen  furnished  these  es- 
says :  by  moderate  people  this  society  was  called  a  set  of 
Freethinkers  ;  by  others  it  was  denominated  the  Hell  Fire 
Club.  Their  essays  were  at  times  opposed  in  the  Gazette 
and  News-Letter,  and  these  papers  were  in  turn  warmly  at- 
tacked in  the  Courant,  but  rather  by  satire  than  argument. 
The  Courant  soon  had  warm  advocates  and  zealous  opposers. 
It  roused  the  attention  of  the  government  and  of  some  of  the 
clergy.  Dr.  I.  Mather  openly  denounced  the  paper  in  an 
address  to  the  publick,  Jan.  29,  1722.  James  Franklin  was 
shortly  after  imprisoned  and  forbidden  to  print,  and  the  paper 
was  for  sometime  issued  in  the  name  of  his  brother  Benjamin, 
who  was  an  apprentice  with  him,  and  was  the  unknown  au- 
thor of  some  interesting  pieces,  that  were  inserted  in  the 
Courant. 

The  Second  Episcopal  society  is  that  which  worships  in 
Christ-Church,  Salem-street.  Its  records  begin  thus  :  '  Laus 
Deo.  Boston,  N.E.  the  2d  September,  1722.  At  the  request 
of  several  gentlemen,  who  had  purchased  a  piece  of  ground 
at  the  north  end  of  Boston,  to  build  a  church  on,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Myles  ordered  his  clerk  to  give  notice  to  his  congre- 
gation, that  all  those  who  were  willing  to  contribute  towards 
erecting  another  church,  at  the  north  end  of  Boston,  were  de- 
sired to  meet  at  King's  Chapel,  the  Wednesday  following. 
Agreeably  to  which  notification,  several  persons  assembled 
and  chose  Mr.  John  Barnes,  treasurer,  Thomas  Greaves,  Esq. 
Messrs.  Geo.  Craddock,  Anthony  Blount,  JohnGibbins,  Thos. 
Selb3r,  and  Geo.  Monk,  a  committee  to  receive  subscriptions 
and  build  a  church  on  said  ground  at  the  north  end  of  Bos- 
ton.' The  preamble  to  their  subscription  ran  thus  :  b  Where- 
as the  Church  of  England,  at  the  south  part  of  Boston,  is  not 
large  enough  to  contain  all  the  people  that  would  come  to  it ; 
and  several  well  disposed  persons  having  already  bought  a 


220  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

piece  of  ground  at  the  north  part  of  said  town  to  build  a 
church  on  :  We,  the  subscribers,  being  willing  to  forward  so 
good  a  work,  do  accordingly  affix  to  our  names  what  each  of 
us  will  cheerfully  contribute.' 

The  list  of  subscribers  and  benefactors  contains  the  names 
of  214  persons,  whose  subscriptions  amounted  to  £727. 18s.st. 

On  the  15th  day  of  April,  1723,  the  corner  stone  of  Christ 
Church  was  laid  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Myles,  minister  of 
King's  chapel,  accompanied  by  the  gentlemen  of  his  congre- 
gation. The  ceremony  was  concluded  with  these  words, 
"  May  the  gates  of  bell  never  prevail  against  it."  The  build- 
ing was  completed  during  the  succeeding  summer  and  autumn, 
and  first  opened  for  publick  worship  on  the  29th  day  of  Dec. 
in  the  same  year,  by  the  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler,  D.  D.  the 
first  rector  of  this  church.  The  appropriate  passage  of  scrip- 
ture from  which  the  preacher  addressed  a  numerous  audi- 
ence on  this  interesting  occasion  was,  "  For  mine  house  shall 
be  called    an  house  of  prayer  for  all  people  "    Isaiah  lvi.  7. 

At  the  opening  of  the  church,  the  usual  audience  is  stated 
to  have  been  about  400  persons  :  the  number  of  purchasers 
of  pews  was  fifty-three.* 

The  great  tide,  (which  we  alluded  to,  p.  109,)  occurred  on 
the  24th  of  Feb.  1723,  and  is  thus  described  by  Cotton 
Mather  :  '  It  rose  two  feet  higher  than  ever  had  been  known 
unto  the  country,  and  the  city  of  Boston  particularly  suffered 
from  it  incredible  mischiefs  and  losses.  It  rose  two  or  three 
feet  above  the  famous  Long  Wharf,  and  flowed  over  the  other 
wharves  and  streets,  to  so  surprising  an  height,  that  we  could 
sail  in  boats  from  the  Southern  battery  to  the  rise  of  ground 
in  King-street,  and  from  thence  to  the  rise  of  ground  ascend- 
ing toward  the  North  meeting-house.  It  filled  all  the  cellars, 
and  filled  the  floors  of  the  lower  rooms  in  the  houses  and 
warehouses  in  town.' 

The  New-England  Courant  ceased  to  be  published  in  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1727,  and  on  Monday,  the  20th  of 
March  in  that  year,  the  fourth  newspaper,  being  the  New- 
England  Weekly  Journal,  appeared.     It  was  issued  on   a  half 


*  See  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton's  Historical  Discourse. 

Purchasers  of  Pews  in  North  or  Christ  Church,  1723.     Wm.  Abraham,  Jos.  Amy,  Anthony 

Blount, Bissell, Ballard, Bedgood,  Thos.  Bennet,  Walter  Brown,  Geo.  Barrow, 

Boulderson,  Dan'l  Crackford,  Wm.  Clarke,  Isaac  Dickenson,  Timo.  Daniel,  Dr.  Thomas 

Graves,  Mary  Gibbs,  Increase  Gatchell, Hooton,John  Howard,  Rob't  Harris,  Wm.Hislop, 

Rob't  Harrison,  Hender,  North  Ingham,  Jenkins,   Wm.  Jones,  James  King, 

Lawlor, Moall,  Gillam  Phillips,  Wm.  Patten,  Wm.  Priggs,  John  Petell,  Wm.  and  Thos. 

Price,  Geo.  Pemberton,  Henry  Pigeon,  Step.  Perks,  John  Rachel],  Nich.  Roach,  Wm.  Ride- 
out,  Geo.  Skinner,  Edw.  Stanbridge,  John  Sowerby,  Arthur  Savage,  Adam  Tuck,  Rob't 
Temple,  Thos  Tippen,  Mary  Tomlins,  Henry  Venner,  Maj.  Vassall,  Rob't  Ward,  Abr. Winter. 


HISTORY    OF   liOSTON.  221 

sheet  of  foolscap  size,  folio.  Imprint,  '  Boston  ;  Printed  by 
S.  Kneeland,  at  the  printing-house  in  Queen-street,  where  ap- 
vertisements  are  taken  in.'  Several  literary  gentlemen  furnish- 
ed this  paper  with  short  essays  on  miscellaneous  subjects, 
more  of  a  moral  than  of  a  political  nature,  and  which,  al- 
though well  written  did  not  occasion  an  excitement  in  the  pub- 
lick  mind  like  that  produced  by  the  writers  for  the  Courant. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

fair  Religion's  beauteous  temples  rise, 

The  altars  of  the  heart's  best  sacrifice  ; 
Various  their  names,  yet  still  alike  their  plan. 

F.  H.  Wright. 

The  Church  in  Federal-street  (which  was  the  thirteenth  re- 
ligious society  in  Boston)  was  originally  constituted  by  a  num- 
ber of  Presbyterian  families  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  the 
descendants  of  emigrants  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  in  the 
reign  of  James  I.  They  arrived  in  Boston  in  the  year  1727, 
accompanied  by  the  Rev.  John  Moorhead,  by  whose  pious 
zeal  and  assiduity  the  society  was  established.  Thej'  pur- 
chased a  convenient  lot  at  the  corner  of  Bury -street  and  Long- 
lane  (now  called  Berry  and  Federal-streets),  and  altered  a 
barn,  which  stood  on  the  ground,  into  a  house  of  worship. 
This  wasinl729,and  the  congregation  having  increased,they  af- 
terwards added  two  wings  to  the  building.  This  rude  and  lowly 
edifice  was  their  place  of  worship  until  1744,  when  a  new  and 
convenient  church  was  erected.  At  that  time  the  society  was 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  There  were  twelve  elders,  corres- 
pondent to  the  number  of  districts  or  sections,  into  which  the 
congregation  was  divided.  Mr.  Moorhead  (whose  settlement 
took  place  March  SO,  1730)  was  most  cordially  attached  to 
his  flock,  and  they  cherished  for  him  a  reciprocal  affection. 
With  the  zealous  enforcement  of  doctrines  which  he  sincerely 
espoused,  he  was  unwearied  in  his  endeavours  to  promote  and 
maintain  virtuous  practice  among  his  people.  He  was  fa- 
voured with  a  strong  constitution  and  his  labours  were  unin- 
terrupted, until  a  few  days  before  his  decease,  December  2, 
1773,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  We  are  not  inform- 
ed particularly  of  the  history  of  the  church  in  the  interval 
between  the  death  of  Mr.  Moorhead  and  the  instalment  of  the 
Rev.  David  Annan  as  their  pastor  in  1783.  Mr.  A.  was  dis- 
missed at  his  own  request  by  the    Presbytery  in  1786  ;  and 


222  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

soon  after  that  event,  the  society  in  Federal-street  relinquish- 
ed the  Presbyterian  regimen  and  embraced  the  Congrega- 
tional order. 

'  Dr.  Douglass,  in  his  Summary,  speaking  of  Mr.  Moor- 
head's  congregation,  has  the  following  note.  "  They  erected 
a  Presbyterian  meeting-house  in  Boston,  Mr.  John  Morehead 
their  presbyter,  as  appears  by  an  inscription,  in  two  col- 
umns, and  not  elegant. 

THE  FIRST   COLUMN. 

This  chh.  of presbyterian  strangers  was  congregated  an.  dom.  1729. 
Anno.  dom.  1 744.  by  a  small  but  generous 
Ilia  manebit.     Labilis  e  contra  si  sit  erana 
Suprema.     Desiderio  J.  M.  hujus  ecclesice. 

THE    SECOND    COLUMN. 

This  building  was  begun  anno.  dom.  1 742,  and  finished. 
Number.     Hujus  fundamen  saxum  est.     Domus 
Peribit.     Gloria  Christi  lex  nostra 
Chris tique  pastor,  and  first  preached  in  May  Gth. 

Latin  and  English  interlarded  is  new,  excepting  in  bur- 
lesque ;  likewise  the  disposition  of  these  lines  is  singular,  and 
to  be  rightly  understood  must  be  read  by  joining  the  several 
lines  of  each  column." 

'  This  inscription  was  probably  in  collateral  columns.  It 
is  perplexing  to  read  it  in  the  form  in  which  it  is  placed  by 
Dr.  Douglass,  and  it  may  be  acceptable  to  have  it  presented 
in  a  more  intelligible  arrangement.  In  doing  this  we  take  the 
liberty  to  include  the  Latin  portion  in  a  parenthesis,  and  to 
correct  a  probable  typographical  error  in  the  third  line  of 
the  inscription,  substituting  the  word  arena  for  erana. 

'  This  Church  of  Presbyterian  strangers  was  congregated 
Anno  Dom.  1729.  This  building  was  begun  Anno  Dom. 1742, 
and  finished  Anno  Dom.  1744,  by  a  small  but  generous  num- 
ber. (Hujus  fundamen  saxum  est.  Domus  ilia  manebit. 
Labilis  e  contra  si  sit  arena  peribit.  Gloria  Christi  lex  nos- 
tra suprema.  Desiderio ,  J.  M.  hujus  ecclesiae,  Christique 
pastor)  and  first  preached  in  May  6th.'* 


*  '  We  should  infer  from  Dr.  D.  i.  368,  that  this  inscription  was  placed  in  the  church. 
There  was  none  such  in  the  house  within  the  recollection  of  any  of  the  society.' — See  Memoir 
appended  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Channing's  sermon  at  ord.  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gannett. 

The  record  of  baptisms  for  the  two  first  years  of  this  church  gives  us  the  following  family 
names  :  Campbell,  Knox,  Miller,  Sloan,  Little,  McCurdy,  Hogg,  Moor,  Watts,  Crosier,  Ruth- 
erford, Morton,  Smith,  Tom,  Kirkland,  Wilson,  Young,  Hodge,  Shirlow,  Hutchinson,  Patter- 
son, Patrick,  Walker,  Lee,  Maxwell,  Chesnut,  MaClure,  Harper,  Tatt,  MaQuistion,  Speer, 
Whipple,  MaClean,  Stewart,  Sinclair,  Mitchell,  Gwinn,  Nicols,  DixoD,  MacDugalh.  Pharr, 
Ross,  Mickleravie,  Awel,  Black,  Quigg,  Bryant. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  223 

The  Hollis-street  Church  claims  the  next  rank  in  point  of 
age.  '  Upon  a  motion  made  by  his  Ex.  Jonathan  Belcher, 
Esq.  unto  William  Pain,  Esq.  that  if  he  with  a  convenient 
number  would  associate  themselves  together  and  build  a  house 
for  the  publick  worship  of.  God,  on  a  piece  of  land  belonging 
to  His  Excellency,  in  Hollis-street,  at  the  south  part  of  Bos- 
ton, that  he,  viz.  His  Ex.  would  make  them  a  present  of  said 
land  for  that  use  ;  upon  which  motion,  divers  persons  met  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Hopestill  Foster,  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1730-1  [?]  and  after  mature  consideration  and  debate,  the  fol- 
lowing persons  subscribed,'  viz.  Wm.  Pain,  Esq.  Sam'l  Wells, 
Esq.  John  Clough,  Caleb  Eddy,  John  Bennett,  Silence  Allen, 
Thos.  Walker,  John  Walker,  Israel  How,  John  Blake,  Hen- 
ry Gibbon,  Jos.  Payson,  James  Day,  Hopestill  Foster,  Eben'r 
Clough,Thos.Trott,  Thos.Milven,  Thos.  Clough,  Sutton  Byles, 
Alden  Bass,  Benja.  Russell,  Jos.  Hambleton,  Nath.  Fairfield, 
John  Goldsmith,  Isaac  Loring,  Wm.  Cunningham. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  the  governour  conveyed  the  land,  and 
they  proceeded  to  erect  a  house  40  feet  by  30,  with  a  steeple. 
It  was  finished  and  dedicated  June  18, 1732.  On  the  14th  of 
November,  '  the  church  was  gathered,  with  fasting  and  pray- 
er, assisted  by  the  ministers  of  the  town.  The  person  who 
more  immediately  formed  them  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph 
Sew  all,'  of  the  Old  South,  who  drew   the   church  covenant.* 


*  The  Hollis-street  Church  Covenant. 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  apprehending  ourselves  called  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  though  unworthy,  to  unite  in  chh.  fellowship,  and  seek  the  settlement  of  all 
the  gospel  institutions  among  us,  do  now  eDter  into  covenant  with  G.  and  one  another,  as 
follows  :  1.  We  declare  our  belief  of  the  S.  S.  as  the  word  of  G.  and  perfect  rule  of  faith, 
and  obedience,  resolving,  by  his  grace,  to  conform  to  them  ;  and  we  adhere  to  the  faith  and 
order  of  the  gospel  as  exhib.  by  these  chhs.  in  their  conf.  of  faith  and  platform  of  chh.  dis- 
cipline, for  the  substance  of  them.  2.  We  give  up  ourselves  in  an  everlasting  covenant  to 
the  L.  Jehovah,  who  is  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  to  our  creator,  redeemer, 
and  sanctifier,  to  love,  obey,  and  serve  him  forever.  3.  We  own  and  submit  to  the  L.  J.  C. 
as  the  head  of  his  body  the  chh.  receiving  and  relying  upon  him  as  the  great  high  priest, 
prophet,  and  king  of  our  salvation.  4.  We  give  ourselves  each  to  other  by  the  will  of  G. 
engaging  by  his  help  to  carry  it  towards  one  another  as  fellow  members  in  chh.  society,  to 
watch  over  one  another  in  brothorly  1.  and  to  walk  together  in  a  due  subjection  to,  and  at- 
tendance upon  the  orders  and  ordinances  appointed  by  C.  and  enjoined  his  chhs.  in  the  gos- 
pel. 5.  We  thankfully  acknowledge,  that  our  posterity  are  included  in  the  gospel  cove- 
nant, and  accordingly  promise  to  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  and  adm.  of  the  L.  and  to 
ewn  them  in  their  covenant  relation,  according  to  the  rule  of  God's  word.  6.  We  promise 
to  do  our  endeavour  to  procure  the  settlement  and  continuance  of  all  the  offices  and  officers 
appointed  by  C.  the  gre"\t  shepherd  for  the  edification  of  his  chh.  and  to  do  our  duty  faith- 
fully for  their  maintenance  and  encouragement,  and  to  carry  it  towards  them  as  the  gospel 
requires.  7.  We  promise  to  preserve  communion  with  the  chhs.  of  C.  walking  together  in 
the  faith  and  order  of  the  gospel,  by  giving  and  rec.  rout,  counsel  and  assistance  in  all  cases 
wherein  it  shall  be  needful.    And  now  we  repair  to  the  blood  «f  the  great  sacrifice  for  the 


224  UISTOllY    OF    BOSTON, 

The  names  of  the  first  members  were  John  Clough,  Jos.  Pay- 
son,  Henry  Gibbon,  Jas.  Day,  Jona.  Neal,  Hopestill  Foster, 
Eben'r  Clough,  Nath.  Fairfield,  John  Cravath,  Alden  Bass, 
John  Blake,  Thomas  Trott,  Isaac  Loring.  November  20th, 
they  '  voted  to  call  the  Rev.  Mr.Mather  Byles  to  take  the  pas- 
toral care  and  charge  of  them,'  and  '  after  this  the  congrega- 
tion were  also  called  together  and  allowed  the  privilege  of  a 
written  vote.'  They  unanimously  concurred,  and  Mr.  Byles, 
having  '  advised  with  the  united  ministers  of  the  city,'  accep- 
ted the  call,  and  was  ordained  on  Wednesday,  the  20th  of 
December,  preaching  his  own  ordination  sermon,  from  2  Tim. 
ii.  17. 

'  By  reason  that  the  Chapel  was  full,  and  no  pews  to  be 
bought  by  new  comers,'  the  first  step  towards  the  formation 
of  Trinity  Church  appears  to  have  been  taken  on  the  25th  of 
April,  1728,  when  the  piece  of  land  on  which  the  building 
stands,  at  the  corner  of  Summer-street  and  Bishop-alley  (now 
Hawley-street)  was  conveyed  by  Wm.  Speakman  to  Leonard 
Vassall,  John  Barnes,  John  Gibbens,  apothecary,  on  condition 
that  they  shall  and  will  with  all  convenient  speed  immedi- 
ately after  the  said  conveyance  endeavour  to  procure  a 
building  to  be  erected  on  the  said  land,  for  the  worship  of 
God  : — which  building  or  church  they,  any  or  either  of  them, 
shall  take  care  to  be  contrived  and  disposed,  both  within  and 
without,  as  they  or  any  or  either  of  them,  in  the  absence  of 
the  other,  shall  find  and  judge  most  conducing  to  the  decent 
and  regular  performance  of  divine  service,  according  to  the 
rubrick  of  the  common  prayer  book,  used  by  the  church  of 
England,  as  by  law  established.'  A  subscription  was  com- 
menced April  6,  1730,  and  continued  Oct.  17,  1733,  and  the 
subscribers  were  to  be  '  repaid,  in  proportion  as  money  arises 
from  the  sale  of  the  pews,  or  any  benefactors.'  The  corner- 
stone was  laid,  April  15, 1734,  and  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion :  Trinity  Church.  This  corner  stone  7cas  laid  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Commissary  Price,  the  15th  April,  1734.' 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1735, '  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Har- 
ward  read  prayers  according  to  the  rubrick  of  the  church  of 
England,  and  the  Rev.  Roger  Price,  his  lordship's  [the 
Bishop  of  London's]  commissary  preached  the  first  sermon  in 
Trinity  church,  from  Heb.  x.  23 — which  sermon  was  preach- 
ed before  a  large  number  of  people,  His  Excellency  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Esq.  being  present.'     Services  were   somewhat  sta- 


pardon  of  all  our  sins,  depending  entirely  upon  our  L.J.  C.  for  acceptance  with  G.  and  for 
his  good  spirit  to  enable  us  to  keep  his  holy  covenant.  And  we  humbly  ask  the  pray- 
ers of  God's  people,  that  we  and  our  offspring;  may  obtain  all  the  blessings  of  this 
covenant,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  with  God  the  Father,  and  God  the  Holy 
Ghost,  be  glory  in  the  churches  forever.    Amen. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  225 

tedly  performed  in  this  church,  by  the  [episcopal]  ministers 
of  the  town,  until  Mr.  Addington  Davenport,  who  was  assis- 
tant to  Mr.  Price  at  the  chapel,  (and  a  very  popular  man 
among  the  dissenters,)  was  invited  to  become  their  minister. 
The  first  overtures  were  made  to  him,  Dec.  5,  1737,  and  he 
expressed  his  assent  on  condition  '  the  Bishop  of  London 
should  grant  him  leave.'  A  correspondence  was  instituted  to 
effect  this  object,  which  was  accomplished  ;  and  on  '  May  8, 
1740,  Mr.  Davenport  came  into  the  church,  with  the  commit- 
tee, and  accepted  the  invitation  :  thereupon  by  the  proprie- 
tors was  presented  and  inducted  into  the  church,  invested  in 
all  the  benefits  and  perquisites  of  the  same,  and  accordingly 
put  into  possession  in  the  manner  of  a  donative  church.'* 

There  had  been  several  ineffectual  efforts  towards  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  regular  market  in  Boston,  previous  to  the 
period  to  which  our  history  has  advanced.  At  length  a  vote 
was  obtained  March  11,  1734,  l  to  choose  a  committee  to 
think  of  and  assign  three  suitable  places  for  erecting  markets, 
and  the  cost  and  charge  thereof:'  517  being  the  number  in 
favour  of  the  proposal,  and  399  against  it.  April  24th,  in 
town-meeting,  '  It  is  voted  and  ordered,  that  Three  places  be, 
and  hereby  are  at  present  assigned  for  the  aforesaid  Market. 
And  that  they  may  be  made  fit  and  commodious  for  the  re- 
ception of  such  as  from  time  to  time  may  bring  their  Com- 
modities there  for  Sale,  that  the  Sum  of  seven  hundred  pounds 
be  allowed  and  paid  out  of  the  Town-Treasury,  to  Thomas 
Fitch,  Edward  Hutchinson,  Thomas  Palmer,  Jacob  Wendell, 
Esqrs.  Messieurs  Nathanael  Cunningham,  James  Watson, 
Francis  Willoughby,  and  John  Steel,  to  enable  them  to  Effect 
the  Buildings,  and  other  necessarys  at  the  Three  several  pla- 
ces assigned  for  that  use.  And  that  a  piece  of  Land, — front- 
ing on  the  main  street  leading  to  Roxbury,  known  by  the 
Name  of  Orange-Street,  over  against  the  House  and  Land  of 
Thomas  Downe,  there  measuring  seventy  feet,  is  pitch'd.upon 
for  one  of  the  Places.  That  the  Town's  Ground,  or  open 
space  on  the  Town  Dock  or  Wharf  commonly  call'd  Dock- 
Square,  be  another  Place.  And  that  the  Open  Space  before 
and  about  the  Old  North  Meeting-house,  is  fixed  upon  and  de- 
termined for  the  third  Place,  where  the  Market  is  to  be  kept 
and  carried  on.' 


*  The  first  officers  of  Trinity  church  were,  Wm.  Speakman,  Joseph  Dowse,  Wardens, — 
Lawrence  Lutwich,  Charles  Apthorp,  Wm.  Coffin,  James  Griffin,  John  Marrett,  Henry 
Laughton,  Peter  Kenwood,  John  Arbuthnot,  Benjamin  Faneuil,  Rufus  Green,  Philip  Duma- 
resq,  Thomas  Aston,  John  Hamack,  Vestry -men, — John  Crosby,  clerk, — John  Hooker,  sexton, 
chosen  April  21,  1739.  '  The  holy  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  first  administered 
June  17th,  1739,  by  Mr.  Davenport ;  the  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  of  New-London,  assisted.' 

29 


226  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 

Clerks  of  the  market  were  appointed  to  attend  at  each  of 
those  places,  and  with  other  rules  for  regulating  the  markets, 
it  was 

'  Ordered,  that  every  Day  in  the  Week,  except  the  Lord's 
Day,  or  other  Days  set  apart  by  this  Government  for  Relig- 
ious Service,  be  a  Market  Day,  and  that  a  Bell  be  daily  rung 
at  the  Opening  of  the  Market,  which  shall  be  at  the  Rising  of 
the  Sun,  through  the  whole  Year,  from  which  Hour  till  the 
Hour  of  One,  Post  Meridiem,  shall  forever  hereafter  be  deem- 
ed and  held  Market  Hours.' 

The  Court  of  general  sessions  of  the  peace  approved  the 
scheme  adopted  by  the  town,  and  publick  notice  was  given 
by  Samuel  Gerrish,  town  clerk,  '  that  the  said  markets  will 
be  opened  on  Tuesday  the  fourth  day  of  June  next.'  The 
News-Letter  of  June  6th,  gives  the  following  account  and  re- 
marks. 'On  Tuesday  morning  last,  being  the  4th  of  June,  at  Sun- 
rising,  the  Bell  rang  the  first  time  for  opening  the  publick  Mar- 
kets the  first  time  in  this  Town,  at  the  three  several  places  as- 
signed, and  now  conveniently  prepared  therefor,  agreeable  to  an 
Order  or  By-Law  of  the  Town,  legally  approved,  ratified,  and 
confirmed  by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for 
the  County  of  Suffolk  :  which  Order  has  been  published  in 
this  and  the  other  publick  News  Papers.  The  Concourse  of 
People  (Sellers,  Buyers,  and  Spectators)  at  the  Market  Places 
was  very  considerable ;  abundance  of  Provisions  were  brought 
thither  for  Sale.  Those  that  exceeded  in  Goodness  and 
Cheapness,  went  off  quick,  but  those  that  were  poor  or  dear, 
more  slowly.  It's  tho't  the  said  Markets  carried  on  con- 
formable to  the  Restrictions,  Limitations,  and  Regulations  of 
the  said  Order,  will  by  Experience  be  found  very  beneficial, 
as  to  this  great  Town  in  general,  and  to  our  Country  Friends  in 
particular,  in  many  Respects,  but  more  especially  in  having 
certain  fixed  Places  of  Resort  both  for  selling  and  buying 
the  Necessaries  of  Life  from  Day  to  Day  :  And  the  cheaper 
and  better  the  Commodities  brought  for  Sale  are,  certainly 
the  more  vendable  they  will  be  ;  which  no  doubt  will  induce 
our  Country  Neighbours  to  endeavour  to  bring  as  good  to  the 
Markets  as  they  can  : — Their  Interest,  as  well  as  the  Town's, 
has  been  jointly  consulted  and  aimed  at  herein.' 

Many  people  were  dissatisfied  with  this  experiment,  and  in 
the  course  of  three  years  the  clerks  were  discontinued,  the 
South  end  market  converted  into  shops,  the  North  taken 
down  to  be  used  in  constructing  a  work- house,  and  the  one  at 
the  Town-dock  was  demolished  by  a  mob. 

We  proceed  to  notice  the  formation  of  the  Ninth  Congrega- 
tional society  or  the  church  in  Lynde-street,  called  the  West 
church,  which  was  '  gathered,'  to  use  the  technical  language 
of  our  fathers,  'on  the  third  of  January,  1736.   The  covenant 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  227 

was  subscribed  by  seventeen  persons,  after  solemn  prayer 
and  preaching,  in  presence  of  Thomas  Prince,  pastor  of  the 
Old  South,  and  Thomas  Foxcroft,  pastor  of  the  First  church. 
On  the  same  day  Mr.  Wm.  Hooper,  who  was  employed  as  a 
private  tutor  in  a  family  near  town,  was  unanimously  chosen 
their  pastor.  Mr.  H.  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  powers  of  mind,  of  a  noble  aspect,  an 
eloquent,  popular  preacher  :  it  was  on  his  account  chiefly,  as 
there  is  reason  to  think,  that  this  church  was  formed.  He 
was  ordained  on  the  18th  of  May,  1737.  The  persons  who 
formed  the  church  were  Hugh  Hall,  Wm.  Stoddard,  from  the 
Old  South  ;  James  Gooch,  jr.  John  Darroll,  John  Daniells, 
from  the  First  church  ;  Jos.  Ricks,  John  Pierce,  Samuel 
Sprague,  Jos.  Badger,  from  Brattle-street ;  Wm.  Williams, 
from  first  church  in  Cambridge  ;  Eph.  Copeland,  Abijah 
Adams,  John  Scot,  from  the  New  North  ;  Wm.  More,  from 
the  Old  North  ;  and  Jas.  Watson,  Robert  Watt,  John  Moffatt, 
not  before  church  members.  All  the  Congregational  church- 
es in  town,  together  with  Mr.  Le  Mercier's,  were  invited  to 
assist  in  the  ordination.  All  the  parts  in  the  solemnities  were 
assigned  by  the  church,  except  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
which  the  council  claimed  a  right  to  assign.* 


*  See  Rev.  Dr.  Lowell's  Historical  Disc.  Dec.  31,  1820. 

Covenant  of  the  West  Church. 

1.  We  declare  our  belief  of  the  S.  S.  as  the  word  of  God,  and  perfect  rule  of  faith  and 
obedience,  resolving  by  his  grace  to  conform  to  them.  And  we  adhere  to  the  faith  and  or- 
der of  the  Gospels,  as  exhibited  by  these  churches  in  their  confession  of  faith  and  platform 
of  church  discipline  for  the  substance  of  them.  2.  We  give  up  ourselves  in  an  everlasting  cov- 
enant to  the  Lord  Jehovah  who  is  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  to  our  Creator, 
Redeemer  and  Sanctifier,  to  love,  obey  and  serve  him  forever.  3.  We  own  and  submit  to 
the  L.  J.  C.  as  the  head  of  his  body  the  church,  receiving  and  relying  upon  him  as  the  great 
High  Priest,  Prophet  and  King  of  our  Salvation.  4.  We  give  ourselves  each  to  other  by 
the  will  of  God,  engaging  by  his  help  to  carry  it  towards  one  another  as  fellow  members  in 
chh.  society,  to  watch  over  one  another  in  brotherly  love,  and  to  walk  together  in  a  due  sub- 
jection to  and  attendance  upon  the  orders  and  ordinances  appointed  by  Christ,  and  enjoyn- 
ed  his  churches  in  the  Gospel.  5.  We  thankfully  acknowledge  that  our  posterity  are  inclu- 
ded in  the  gospel  covenant,  and  accordingly  promise  to  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  to  own  them  in  their  covenant  relation  according  to  the  rules 
of  God's  word.  6.  We  promise  to  do  our  endeavour  to  procure  the  settlement  and  con- 
tinuance of  all  the  officers  appointed  by  Christ  the  great  Shepherd  for  tbe  edification  of  his 
church,  and  to  do  our  duty  faithfully  for  their  maintenance  and  encouragement,-  and  to  car- 
ry it  towards  them  as  the  Gospel  requires.  7.  We  promise  to  preserve  communion  with 
the  churches  of  Christ  walking  together  in  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  by  giving  and 

receiving  mutual  counsel  and  assistance  in  all  cases  where  it  shall  be   needful. And  now 

we  repair  to  the  Blood  of  the  great  Sacrifice  for  the  pardon  of  all  our  sins,  depending  en- 
tirely upon  our  L.  J.  C.  for  acceptance  with  God,  and  for  his  good  Spirit,  to  enable  us  to 
keep  his  holy  covenant.  And  we  humbly  ask  the  prayers  of  God's  people,  that  we  and  our 
offspring  may  obtain  all  the  blessings  of  this  covenant,  for  the  sake  of  J.  C.  to  whom  with 
God  the  Father,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  gUry  in  the  churches  forever.    Amen. 


228  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

In  1738  the  district  of  Romney  Marsh  was  separated  from 
Boston,  and  incorporated  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Chelsea. 
There  was  great  opposition  to  this  step  on  the  part  of  the  old 
town,  and  the  principal  objection  was  raised  on  the  ground 
that  it  would  lessen  the  ability  of  the  town  to  bear  the  burden 
of  taxes,  some  of  the  wealthy  inhabitants  residing  or  own- 
ing property  at  the  Marsh,  which  would  thus  be  placed  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  assessors.  An  attempt  had  been  made 
two  years  before,  by  the  country  towns  in  the  county  of  Suf- 
folk, to  rid  themselves  of  the  expense  of  a  connection  with 
Boston,  by  having  the  town  erected  into  a  county  by  itself, 
but  the  opposition  from  Boston  was  at  that  time  successful. 

The  religious  world  had  now  experienced  a  state  of  quiet 
for  more  than  fifty  years.  Primitive  zeal  in  practice  and 
strictness  in  principle  had  given  place  to  feelings,  which  sa- 
voured more  of  indifference  and  unconcern.  Individuals  were 
sometimes  emboldened  to  lift  their  voices  to  warn  or  to  re- 
prove, but  it  was  only  to  be  heard  and  be  disregarded.  The 
arrival  of  the  celebrated  George  Whitefield  roused  the  whole 
continent  from  this  sort  of  lethargy.  Wherever  he  appeared, 
crowds  thronged  to  hear  his  exhortations.  Multitudes  atten- 
ded him  in  his  journeys  from  place  to  place,  and  his  progress 
was  regularly  reported  in  the  papers  of  the  day.  We  find 
his  entrance  and  stay  in  Boston  thus  related  : — 

'On  Thursday  evening  (Sept.  18,  1740)  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitefield  arrived  here  by  land  from  Rhode  Island,  being 
met  on  the  road  and  conducted  to  town  by  several  gentle- 
men. The  next  day  in  the  forenoon  he  attended  prayers  in 
the  King's  Chapel,  and  in  the  afternoon  he  preached  to  a 
vast  congregation  in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colman's  meeting-house  ; 
Saturday,  in  the  forenoon,  at  the  [Old]  South  church,  to  a 
crowded  audience  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  to  about  5000  peo- 
ple on  the  Common.  Lord's-day,  A.  M.  he  went  to  hear  Dr. 
Colman,  and  in  the  afternoon,  having  preached  to  a  great 
number  of  people  at  the  Old  Brick  church,  the  house  not  be- 
ing large  enough  to  hold  those  that  crowded  to  hear  him,  he 
went  and  preached  in  the  field  to  at  least  8000  persons.  On 
Monday  he  preached  in  the  morning  at  Mr.  Webb's,  and  was 
to  have  served  in  the  afternoon  at  Mr.  Checkley's,  but  for  an 
accident  which  happened  just  before  the  time  when  the  ser- 
vice was  to  begin.  Some  person  broke  a  piece  of  board,  in 
one  of  the  galleries,  to  make  a  seat  of  it.  The  noise  alarmed 
some  that  heard  it,  and  they  imprudently  cried  out  that  the 
galleries  were  giving  way.  The  house  being  prodigiously 
crowded,  the  whole  congregation  was  put  into  the  utmost  con- 
fusion and  disorder  ;  so  that,  being  in  the  greatest  concern 
how  to  save  their  lives,  some  jumped  off  the  gallery  into  the 
seats   below,  others  out  of  the   windows  ;    and  those  below 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON-.  229 

pressing  to  get  out  of  the  porch  doors  in  haste,  several  were 
thrown  down  one  over  another,  and  trod  upon  by  those  who 
were  crowding  out.  Many  were  exceedingly  bruised,  and 
others  had  their  bones  broken  :  five  persons  died  within  two 
days.  Mr.  Whitefield's  presence  of  mind  did  not  forsake 
him  ;  he  led  the  anxious  throng  immediately  to  the  Common, 
and  preached  to  them  from  the  words,  Go  ye  out  into  the 
highways  and  hedges  and  compel  them  to  come  in.'  Mr. 
Whilefield  continued  this  incessant  labour  here  for  a  week, 
then  travelled  eastward  a  few  days,  returned  and  spent  the 
second  week  of  October  in  and  about  Boston.  He  preached 
his  farewell  sermon,  of  a  sabbath  evening,  on  the  Common, 
'  where  it  is  supposed  upwards  of  23,000  people  attended.'  It 
is  almost  needless  to  observe  that  opinions  were  various  con- 
cerning the  benefit  achieved  by  this  visit.  Whether  evening 
lectures  had  been  in  practice  before,  we  know  not,  but  we  find 
it  advertised,  as  if  it  were  something  new,  that  one  is  now 
(Oct.  21.)  established,  to  be  held  weekly,  at  Dr.  Colman's 
church. 

Considering  that  the  Tenth  Congregational,  the  Second 
Baptist,  and  the  Eleventh  Congregational  churches,  took 
their  rise  from  circumstances,  which  l  possibly  had  some  con- 
nexion with  the  religious  excitements  of  this  period,'  we  shall 
bring  an  account  of  those  churches  into  this  chapter.  The 
Tenth  Congregational  was  that  which  is  known  as  Samuel 
Mather's.  This  gentleman  was  a  son  of  the  venerated  Cotton 
Mather,  and,  after  his  father's  death,  was  chosen,  Jan.  28, 1732, 
to  supply  his  place  as  colleague  with  the  Rev.  Joshua  Gee, 
at  the  Old  North.  '  He  was  recommended  to  them  not  only  by 
their  respect  for  the  ancient  family,  but  by  his  own  character 
for  diligence,  zeal,  and  learning,  of  which  he  certainty  pos- 
sessed an  uncommon  share.  His  union  with  the  people  of 
the  Old  North  continued  but  nine  years,  when,  on  account  of 
some  dissatisfaction  with  his  preaching,  which  was  thought 
by  some  not  to  be  sufficiently  explicit  upon  certain  points  of 
doctrine,  together  with  some  other  grounds  of  uneasiness,  a 
division  took  place  in  the  church.'  Mr.  Mather  first  asked  a 
dismission  in  Feb.  1741,  which  the  church  declined  to  grant, 
and  the  matter  was  submitted  to  a  council,  in  compliance  with 
whose  advice  they  voted,  Oct.  23,  to  dismiss  him  from  his 
pastoral  relation  and  allow  him  a  year's  salary.  On  the  21st 
of  Dec.  following,  a  number  of  the  '  brethren  gave  the  church 
to  understand,  that  they  conscientiously  thought  themselves 
called  to  promote  the  building  of  a  new  meeting-house,'  and 
were  accordingly  dismissed.  Their  number  was  thirty.  On 
the  29th  of  the  5th  month,  1742,  sixty-three  women  were  dis- 
missed to  unite  with  them,  and  it  is  probable  that  their  meet- 
ing-house was  ready  to  be  occupied  about  that  time.     It  was 


230  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

located  at  the  corner  of  North  Bennet  and  Hanover  streets. 
Mr.  M.  received  a  diploma  of  doctor  of  divinity  from  Har- 
vard College  in  1773.  He  continued  in  the  pastoral  office 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  June  27,  1785,  at  the  advanc- 
ed age  of  seventy-nine  years.  '  He  left  positive  orders  that 
his  interment  should  be  private  and  without  any  ceremony — 
also  signified  his  desire  that  he  might  not  have  any  funeral 
encomiums  from  any  quarter.'  Most  of  the  persons  who  were 
at  that  time  worshipping  wiih  him,  returned  by  his  advice  to 
the  church  from  which  they  came  out,  and  the  house  was 
soon  after  purchased  and  enlarged  for  the  accommodation  of 
a  society  of  another  denomination.   It  was  a  wooden  building. 

'  What  is  called  the  Second  Baptist  church  in  Boston  com- 
menced in  the  following  manner.  A  number  of  brethren, 
who  had  for  some  time  enjoyed  communion  in  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  in  this  town,  became  dissatisfied  with  the  doctrinal 
sentiments  of  their  then  pastor,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Condy.  They 
charged  him  with  having  departed  from  the  sentiments  on 
which  the  church  originally  covenanted.'  After  stating  their 
views  to  him  in  writing,  under  date  of  Sept.  29,  1742,  and  not 
obtaining  any  satisfactory  answer,  they  withdrew  from  his 
ministry,  and  on  the  27th  of  July,  1743,  three  of  their  num- 
ber (James  Bownd,  John  Procter,  and  Ephraim  Bosworth,) 
covenanted  together  as  a  church,  '  purposing,  by  the  Lord's 
grace  enabling,  to  hold  fast  those  great  though  now  much  ex- 
ploded doctrines,  of  election,  justification  by  faith  alone,  par- 
ticular redemption,  final  perseverance,  and  original  sin 
or  the  total  depravity  and  absolute  enmity  of  all  mankind,  by 
their  fall  in  Adam,  to  God  and  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  until 
irresistible  grace  do  change  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  the 
elect  of  God.'  On  the  same  day,  John  Dabney  and  Thomas 
Boucher,  then  Ephraim  Bownd,  and  then  Thomas  Lewis, 
acknowledging  the  aforenamed  persons  '  to  be  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  in  Boston,'  were  admitted  to  be  fellow  members. 
The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  evening,  when  they 
made  choice  of  Mr.  Eph.  Bownd  to  take  the  pastoral  charge 
of  them.  His  ordination  took  place  on  Wednesday,  Sept. 
7th,  at  Warwick,  R.  I. 

This  society  held  their  Lord's-day  meetings  for  publick 
worship,  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Mr.  James  Bownd,  in 
Sheaf-street,  near  Copp's  hill,  from  Oct.  3,  1742,  until  June 
3,  1745,  when  they  removed  to  Mr.  Procter's  school-house, 
and  there  met  until  Lord's-day,  March  15,  1746,  when  the 
first  sermon  was  preached  in  their  new  meeting-house,  which 
stood  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  church.  It  was  a 
wooden  building  of  45  by  33  ft.  finished  in  a  plain,  but  decent 
style.     Near  the  head  of  the  broad  aisle  was  prepared  a  font 


HISTORY    OY   BOSTON.  231 

or  cistern,  in  which  their  candidates  were  immersed  :  it  con- 
tinued in  use  for  more  than  forty  years.* 

A  narrative  of  the  founding  and  settling  of  the  new-gather- 
ed [Eleventh]  Congregational  church  in  Boston,  was  publish- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Andrew  Crosvvell,  their  pastor.  It  states, 
that  on  the  17th  of  February,  1748,  a  number  of  persons,  al- 
most all  of  whom  were  members  of  other  churches,  thinking 
it  for  the  glory  of  God  to  be  a  distinct,  but  not  a  separate 
church,  (as  was  expressed  in  several  letters  sent  for  dismis- 
sions,) did,  after  solemn  fasting  and  prayer,  embody  into  a 
church  state.  The  articles  and  covenant  with  which  they 
were  embodied  are  given  at  large  in  Mr.  Croswell's  narrative. 
The  covenant  is  almost  word  for  word  like  that  of  the  New 
Brick  church.  In  their  articles  they  require  '  it  as  agreeable 
to  Scripture,  that  those  who  are  admitted  members  of  our 
church  should  give  an  account  of  a  work  of  the  law  and  of 
the  gospel  upon  their  souls,'  first  to  the  minister  and  after- 
ward to  the  church.  They  require  the  same  from  any  can- 
didate for  the  ministry,  '  to  prevent,  (say  they,)  as  much  as 


*  After  an  introduction,  appealing  to  the  S.  S.  primarily,  and  to  the  London  Baptist  print- 
ed Confession,  subordinate^,  as  the  rule  and  standard  of  their  faith  and  practice  and  church 
discipline,  we  find  the 

Covenant  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church. 

We  whose  names  are  hereafter  written,  vizt.  some  that  it  hath  pleased  God  through  the 
riches  of  his  gTace  to  call  out  of  darkn.  into  his  marv.  light,  and  to  reveal  his  son  in  us, 
whereby  we  know  that  the  L.  is  our  God,^rad  having  shown  unto  us  our  duty  and  priv.  as 
believers,  (vizt.  not  only  to  separate  from  the  world  both  as  to  doctrine  and  practice  and 
worship,  but  also  to  congregate  and  embody  ourselves  into  chh.  state,) and  being  thro'  grace 
well  satisfied  concerning  our  mutual  nearness  to  the  Lord,  and  standing  together  in  the  per- 
son of  Christ,  and  being  brought  in  some  blessed  measure  into  oneness  of  sp.  being  baptized 
by  one  s.  into  one  body,  and  being  agreed  in  the  great  and  sublime  truths  of  the  gospel,  we 
do  therefore  in  the  name  and  fear  of  the  L.  give  up  ourselves  unto  the  L.  and  unto  one 
another  by  the  will  of  G.  to  walk  together  as  a  chh.  of  C.  in  the  fp.  of  the  gospel,  and  in  the 
observance  and  practice  of  the  laws  and  ordinances,  wh.  C.  hath  appointed  his  N.  T.  churches 
to  be  in  the  pract.  of,  so  far  as  he  hath  or  shall  enlighten  us  into  the  kn.  of  our  duty  and 
priv.  and  as  the  L.  shall  please  to  help  us.  We  will  freq.  assemble  ourselves  together,  as  a 
chh.  of  C.  to  attend  upon  our  L.  in  the  service  of  his  house,  esp.  every  first  day  of  the  week ; 
and  as  we  shall  be  enabled  by  his  grace  and  conducted  by  his  sp.  we  will  stand  up  together 
for  the  truth  and  cause  of  C  against  all  opp.  raised  against  it  by  the  world  and  carnal  pro- 
fessors ;  and  by  the  same  help  we  will  watch  over  one  another  in  the  L.  And  as  we  shall 
be  under  the  conduct  of  Jehovah  the  Spirit,  we  will  keep  the  doors  of  God's  house  open 
always  to  believers  in  C  who  are  sound  in  faith  about  the  salv.  of  God's  elect  as  it  is  by  the 
Father's  grace  thro'  the  Son's  redemption ;  and  as  our  G.  will  help  us,  we  will  keep  them 
always  shut  ag.  unbelievers  and  profligate  persons.  And  now  as  a  test,  of  our  cordial  belief 
of  those  former  doctrines  of  f.  contained  in  the  printed  declaration  afsd.  and  of  our  holy  reso- 
lution in  the  strength  of  grace  to  stand  and  walk  together  in  the  fp.  of  the  gospel,  we  call 
not  only  heaven  and  earth  to  witness  but  we  also  subscribe  the  same  with  our  hands. 
See  Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin's  Dedication  Sermon,  1811,  and  New  Year's  Disc.  1824. 


232  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

in  us  lies,  any  unconverted  minister  being  ever  concerned 
with  this  church.'  They  maintain,  that,  in  case  of  incorrigi- 
ble fault  in  a  minister,  '  this  church  hath  full  power  to  take 
from  him  that  power  over  them  which  they  gave  to  him, 
though,  as  we  profess  ourselves  to  be  Congregationalists,  we 
think  that,  in  such  and  other  difficult  cases,  it  would  become 
us  as  Christians  to  seek  the  advice  and  assistance  of  other 
churches  of  Christ  :'  and  they  acknowledge  the  Westminster 
Confession  k  to  be  an  excellent  system,  though  no  human  com- 
posures are  perfect  and  of  divine  authority.' 

Mr.  Crosweli  was  invited  by  this  church  to  become  their 
pastor.  The  church  in  Groton  (Conn.)  over  which  he  had 
been  settled,  having  voted  him  '  liberty  to  act  as  he  thought 
duty,  he  gave  an  answer  in  the  affirmative  in  publick,  declar- 
ing to  all  present,  that  the  design  of  himself  and  his  friends 
was  only  to  be  a  distinct  church,  and  that  they  professed  no 
separation  from  Calvinistical  ministers.' 

About  the  latter  end  of  August,  the  church  sent  letters  to  a 
variety  of  churches  to  come  and  assist  in  the  instalment, 
which  was  to  be,  Oct.  5,  1748.  The  [Old]  South  church  in 
Boston  utterly  refused  to  be  concerned  in  the  affair,  judging 
it  had  '  an  unhappy  tendency  to  crumble  the  other  Congrega- 
tional churches  in  town  into  small  societies.'  The  council 
considered  the  objections,  but  thought  them  of  insufficient 
weight  to  prevent  their  proceeding  '  to  the  instalment,  which 
was  carried  on  in  a  very  reverent  and  godly  manner.' 

The  narrative  goes  on  to  say,  '  God  knew  the  place  where 
we  assembled  was  too  strait  and  the  difficulties  that  would 
attend  our  building  an  house,  and  therefore  he  himself  found 
an  house  for  us.'  It  was  the  meeting-house  of  the  French 
Protestant  church,*  which,  as  we  have  before  related,  was 
about  this  time  dissolved.  They  disposed  of  their  right  in 
the  house  in  Schoolfstreet  to  Thomas  Fillebrown,  James  Dav- 
enport, Wai.  Hickling,  N.  H.  Proctor,  and  Thos.  Handaside 
Peck,  as  trustees  of  Mr.  Croswell's  church.  We  have  sought 
in  vain  for  the  records  of  this  society,  and  are  therefore  una- 
ble to  say  how  long  it  maintained  a  visible  standing  among 
the  churches  of  Boston.  Mr.  Crosweli  became  blind  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life,  but,  notwithstanding  that  infirmity,  con- 
tinued his  professional  labours  ;  and  could  always  be  depend- 
ed upon,  in  cases  of  emergency,  to  favour  his  brethren  with 
an  extempore  sermon  ;  he  died  '  April  12,  1785,  in  the  77th 
year  of  his  age.'  The  meeting-house  soon  after  passed  into 
the  hands  of  another  people. 


*  It  has  not  been  usual  to  include  this  in  our  enumeration  of  the  Congregational  church- 
es :  though  it  appears  to  have  been  considered  a  sister-church  in  cases  of  ordination. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON,  233 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Oh  !  is  there  not  some  patriot,  in  whose  power 

That  best,  that  godlike  luxury  is  placed, 

Of  blessing  thousands,  thousands  yet  unborn, 

Through  late  posterity  ? Thomson. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  old  market-houses,  the  opin- 
ion of  the  inhabitants  continued  to  be  as  various  as  before, 
some  very  earnestly  desiring,  and  others  as  violently  opposing 
the  re  establishment  of  them.  In  the  year  1740,  Peter* 
Faneuil,  Esq.  made  an  offer  to  build,  at  his  own  expense,  a 
complete  structure  or  edifice  on  the  town's  land  in  Dock- 
square,  to  be  improved  for  a  Market,  for  the  sole  use,  benefit, 
and  advantage  of  the  town,  provided  that  the  town  would 
pass  a  vote  authorizing  it,  and  lay  the  same  under  such  prop- 
er regulations  as  should  be  thought  necessary,  and  constantly 
support  it  for  the  said  use.  On  the  14th  of  July,  a  town  meet- 
ing was  held,  when  a  petition  of  Thomas  Palmer  and  others 
to  the  number  of  340  was  read,  praying  that  the  town  would 
accede  to  the  proposal.  A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  F.  was  im- 
mediately passed  without  opposition  :  but  when  the  question 
came,  whether  the  town  would  authorize  a  market  to  be  built, 
it  was  carried  by  a  very  small  majority  :  367  yeas  to  360 
nays.  The  work  was  accordingly  commenced  on  the  8th  of 
the  following  September,  and  it  was  finished  Sept.  10,  1742, 
on  which  day  '  Mr.  Sam'l  Ruggles,  who  was  employed  in 
building  the  market-house,  waited  on  the  selectmen  by  order 
of  P.  Faneuil,  Esq.  and  delivered  them  the  key  of  said  house.' 
'On  the  13th,  a  meeting  of  the  town  was  held  in  the  Hall,  and  a 
motion  was  made,  by  the  Hon.  John  Jeffries,  Esq.  that  the 
thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.  for  his  no- 
ble and  generous  benefaction  of  the  Market-house  to  the 
town,  which,  as  an  instance  of  gratitude  in  the  town  to  its 
amiable  benefactor,  we  have  thought  proper  to  transcribe. 

'  In  Town  Meeting,  Boston,  Sept.  13th,  1742. 

•  Whereas  information  was  given  to  this  town,  at  their  meet- 
ing, in  July,  1740,  That  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.  had  been  gen- 
erously pleased  to  offer,  at  his  own  proper  cost  and  charges, 
to  erect  and  build  a  noble  and  complete  structure,  or  edifice, 
to  be  improved  for  a  Market,  for  the  sole  use,  benefit,  and  ad- 
vantage of  the  town;  provided  the  town  of  Boston  would 
pass  a  vote  for  that  purpose,  and  lay  the  same  under  such 
proper  regulations  as  shall  be  thought  necessary,and  constantly 
30 


234  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

support  it  for  the  said  use.  And  whereas  at  the  said  meeting  it 
was  determined  to  acceptof  the  offer  or  proposal  aforesaid;  and 
also  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  be  desired  to  wait  upon 
Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.  and  to  present  the  thanks  of  this  town 
to  him,  and  also  to  acquaint  him, that  the  town  have,  by  their 
vote,  come  to  a  resolution  to  accept  of  his  generous  offer  of 
erecting  a  Market  House  on  Dock  Square,  according  to  his  pro- 
posal. And  whereas  Peter  Fanueil,  Esq.  has,  in  pursuance 
thereof,  at  a  very  great  expense,  erected  a  noble  structure,  far 
exceeding  his  first  proposal,  inasmuch  as  it  contains  not  only  a 
large  and  sufficient  accommodation  for  a  Market  place,  but  has 
also  superadded,  a  spacious  and  most  beautiful  Town  Hall, 
over  it,  and  several  other  convenient  rooms,  which  may  prove 
very  beneficial  to  the  town,  for  offices,  or  otherwise.  And  the 
said  building  being  now  finished,  has  delivered  possession  there- 
of to  the  selectmen,  for  the  use  of  the  town  ;  it  is  therefore 
'  voted,  That  the  town  do,  with  the  utmost  gratitude,  receive 
and  accept  this  most  generous  and  noble  benefaction,  for  the 
use  and  intentions  it  is  designed  for,  and  do  appoint  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Cushing,  Esq.  the  moderator  of  this  meeting,  the 
Hon.  Adam  Winthrop,  Edward  Hutchinson,  Ezekiel  Lewis, 
and  Samuel  Waldo,  Esqrs.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq,  the 
Selectmen  and  the  Representatives  of  the  town  of  Boston, 
the  Hon.  Jacob  Wendell,  Esq.  James  Bowdoin,  Esq.  Andrew 
Oliver,  Esq.  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cunningham,  Peter  Chardon, 
Esq.  and  Mr.  Charles  Apthorp,  to  wait  upon  Peter  Faneuil, 
Esq.  and  in  the  name  of  the  town,  to  render  him  their  most 
hearty  thanks  for  so  bountiful  a  gift,  with  their  prayers,  that 
this,  and  other  expressions  of  his  bounty  and  charity  may 
be   abundantly  recompensed   with  the  divine  blessing.' 

A  number  of  laws  were  passed  for  the  regulation  of  the 
Market.  A  Clerk  was  to  be  annually  appointed,  and  Mr. 
Faneuil  had  liberty  to  nominate  one  to  serve  until  the  annual 
meeting,  in  March. 

Another  vote  unanimously  obtained,  That  in  testimony  of 
the  town's  gratitude  to  Peter  Faneuil,  Esq.  and  to  perpetuate 
his  memory,  that  the  Hall  over  the  Market  place,  be  named 
Faneuil  Hall,  and  at  all  times  hereafter,  be  called  and  known 
by  that  name.  And  as  a  further  testimony  of  respect,  it  was 
voted,  that  Mr.  Faneuil's  picture  be  drawn  at  full  length,  at 
the  expense  of  the  town,  and  placed  in  the  Hall ;  and  the 
Selectmen  were  charged  with  the  commission,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly executed. 

The  building  was  of  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  and  meas- 
ured 100  ft.  by  40.  It  was  esteemed  one  of  the  best  pieces 
of  workmanship  and  an  ornament  to  the  town.  The  hall 
would  contain  1000  persons,  there  were  convenient  apartments 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  235 

for  the  offices  of  the  town,  besides  a  room   for  a  naval  office, 
and  a  notary  publick. 

Mr.  Faneuil  did  not  long  survive  to  enjoy  these  honours  or 
the  gratitude  of  his  townsmen.  The  town  lost  its  friend  by  a 
sudden  and  premature  death,  March  3, 1743  ;  and  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  hall,  March  14th,  a  funeral 
oration  was  delivered  by  Mr.  John  Lovell,  master  of  the 
South  grammar  school.  As  the  first  specimen  of  eloquence 
uttered  in  the  future  Cradle  of  Liberty,  this  oration  is  a  prec- 
ious relick  :  to  preserve  it  is,  moreover,  a  tribute  due  to  the 
memory  of  Faneuil,  and  we  therefore  subjoin  it  to  this  account.* 

FUNERAL    ORATION    ON    PETER    FANEUIL,    ESQ. 

'  I  stand  in  this  place,  my  fellow  townsmen,  and  my  worthy 
patrons,  at  the  call  of  those  to  whom  you  have  committed  the 
direction  of  your  publick  affairs,  to  condole  with  you  for  the 
loss  of  your  late  generous  benefactor,  the  Founder  of  this 
house.  Certain  I  am,  there  are  numbers  in  this  great  assem- 
bly, who  should  upon  this  occasion  have  done  more  justice  to 
his  memory,  and  have  better  discharg'd  the  office  that  is  en- 
joined me.  But  the  commands  of  those  (for  such  I  must  al- 
ways esteem  their  desires)  who  have  devolved  this  charge 
upon  me,  and  the  veneration  I  have  for  the  virtues  of  the  de- 
ceas'd,  oblige  me  to  bear  what  little  part  I  can,  in  a  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  the  just  reward  due  to  the  memory  of  a 
man,  whose  name,  I  am  sure,  will  never  be  forgotten  among  us. 

'  How  soon,  alas  !  is  our  joy  for  having  found  such  a  bene- 
factor, chang'd  into  mourning  for  the  loss  of  him  !  But  a  few 
months  are  pass'd;  since  we  were  framing  votes,  and  consult- 
ing the  best  measures  to  express  our  gratitude  for  his  unexam- 
pled favours  ;  and  the  first  annual  meeting  within  these  walls 
that  were  rais'd  by  his  bounty,  finds  us  assembled  in  the 
deepest  sorrow  for  his  decease. 

'  Instances  of  mortality  are  never  more  affecting  than  in 
those  whose  lives  have  been  publick  blessings.  Surely  then, 
every  breast  must  feel  a  more  than  common  distress,  for  the 
loss  of  one,  whose  largeness  of  heart  equalled,  great  as  it  was, 
his  power  to  do  good.  Honest  industry  must  mourn,  for 
which  the  exercise  of  his  bounty  found  an  almost  constant 
employment  :  And  they  that  know  how  to  pity  the  calami- 
ties of  human  nature  themselves,  will  mourn  for  him  that  al- 
wavs  reliev'd  them. 


*  March  14,  1744,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  the  Faneuil   arras,  elegantly    carved  and 
gilt,  by  Moses  Deshon,  to   be   fixed   in   the  hall.    The    family  of  Faneuil  was  among  the 
French  Huguenots  that  fled  from  France  in   1685.    The   house   occupied   by    Lieut.  Gov. 
Phillips  was  built  by  Andrew  F.  and  the  summer-house  attached  to  it  bears  a  grasshopper 
vane,  similar  to  that  on  Faneuil  Hall.        After  A's  death  Peter  lived  and  died  tjiere. 


236  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

'  So  soon  as  he  arriv'd  to  the  possession  of  his  large  and 
plentiful  estate,  instead  of  fruitlessly  hoarding  up  his  treas- 
ures, though  no  man  manag'd  his  affairs  with  greater  prudence 
and  industry  ;  instead  of  wasting  them  in  luxury,  though 
plenty  always  crown'd  his  board  ;  instead  of  neglecting  the 
wants  of  his  fellow  creatures,  an  unhappy  circumstance  too 
often  attending  the  possession  of  riches,  he  made  it  manifest 
that  he  understood  the  true  improvement  of  wealth,  and  was 
determin'd  to  pursue  it.  It  was  to  him  the  highest  enjoyment 
of  riches,  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the  needy,  from  which  he 
was  himself  exempted,  to  see  mankind  rejoicing  in  the  fruits 
of  his  bounty,  and  to  feel  that  divine  satisfaction,  which  re- 
sults from  communicating  happiness  to  others.  His  acts  of 
charity  were  so  secret  and  unbounded,  that  none  but  they 
who  were  the  objects  of  it,  can  compute  the  sums  which  he 
annually  distributed  among  them.  His  alms  flow'd  like  a 
fruitful  river,  that  diffuses  its  streams  through  a  whole  country. 
He  fed  the  hungry,  and  he  cloth'd  the  naked,  he  comforted  the 
fatherless,  and  the  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  his  bounties 
visited  the  prisoner.  So  that  Almighty  God  in  giving  riches 
to  this  man,  seems  to  have  scattered  blessings  all  abroad 
among  the  people. 

4  But  these  private  charities  were  not  the  only  effects  of  his 
publick  spirit,  which,  not  contented  with  distributing  his  bene- 
factions to  private  families,  extended  them  to  the  whole  com- 
munity. Let  this  stately  edifice  which  bears  his  name  wit- 
ness for  him,  what  sums  he  expended  in  publick  munificence. 
This  building,  erected  by  him  at  an  immense  charge,  for  the 
convenience  and  ornament  of  the  town,  is  incomparably  the 
greatest  benefaction  ever  yet  known  to  our  western  shore. 
Yet  this  effect  of  his  bounty,  however  great,  is  but  the  first 
fruits  of  his  generosity,  a  pledge  of  what  his  heart,  always 
devising  liberal  things,  would  have  done  for  us,  had  his  life  been 
spar'd.  It  is  an  unspeakable  loss  to  the  town,  that  he  was 
taken  away  in  the  midst  of  his  days,  and  in  so  sudden  a  man- 
ner, as  to  prevent  his  making  provision  for  what  his  generous 
heart  might  design.  For  I  am  well  assur'd,  from  those  who 
were  acquainted  with  his  purposes,  that  he  had  many  more 
blessings  in  store  for  us,  had  heaven  prolong'd  his  days. 

'  But  he  is  gone  !  The  town's  benefactor,  the  comforter  of 
the  distress'd,  and  the  poor  man's  friend. 

'  He  is  gone  !  And  all  his  plans  of  future  bounties  with 
him,  they  are  buried  in  the  grave  together.  He  shall  be  rai- 
sed to  life  again  :  And  his  intended  charities,  though  they  are 
lost  to  us,  will  not  be  lost  to  him.  Designs  of  goodness  and 
mercy,  prevented  as  these  were,  will  meet  with  the  reward 
of  actions. 

'  He  is  gone  ! — And  must  such  men  die  !  Must  the  protect- 
ors and  fathers  of  the  distress'd  be  taken   away,  while  their 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON".  237 

oppressors  are  continued,  and  increase  in  power  ! — Great 
God  !  How  unsearchable  are  thy  ways  !— We  confess  our 
sins,  but  just  and  righteous  art  thou  ! 

'  To  express  your  gratitude  to  your  generous  benefactor, 
you  have  passed  the  most  honourable  resolves,  and  to  pre- 
serve his  memory,  you  have  call'd  this  house  by  his  name. 
But  in  vain,  alas  !  would  you  perpetuate  his  memory  by  such 
frail  materials.  These  walls,  the  present  monuments  of  his 
fame,  shall  moulder  into  dust  :  These  foundations,  however 
deeply  laid,  shall  be  forgotten.  But  his  deeds,  his  charities, 
shall  survive  the  ruin  of  Nature.  And  to  have  reliev'd  the 
miseries  of  the  distress'd,  to  have  still'd  the  cries  of  orphans, 
and  to  have  dry'd  the  widow's  tears,  are  acts  that  shall  em- 
balm his  memory  for  many  generations  on  earth,  and  shall 
follow  him  beyond  the  limits  of  mortality,  into  those  blissful 
regions  where  endless  charity  dwells. 

'  What  now  remains,  but  my  ardent  wishes  (in  which  I 
know  you  will  all  concur  with  me)  that  this  Hall  may  be  ev- 
er sacred  to  the  interests  of  Truth,  of  Justice,  of  Loyalty,  of 
Honour,  of  Liberty.  May  no  private  views  nor  party  broils 
ever  enter  within  these  walls  ;  but  may  the  same  publick  spir- 
it that  glow'd  in  the  breast  of  the  generous  Founder,  influence 
all  your  debates,  that  society  may  reap  the  benefit    of  them. 

'  May  Liberty  always  spread  its  joyful  wings  over  this 
place :  Liberty  that  opens  men's  hearts  to  beneficence,  and 
gives  the  relish  to  those  who  enjoy  the  effects  of  it.  And 
may  Loyalty  to  a  king,  under  whom  we  enjoy  this  liberty, 
ever  remain  our  character.  A  character  always  justly  due 
to  this  land,  and  of  which  our  enemies  have  in  vain  attempt- 
ed to  rob  us. 

'May  those  who  are  the  inheritors  of  the  large  estate  of 
our  deceased  benefactor,  inherit  likewise  the  largeness  of  his 
soul.  May  the  widow,  the  orphan,  and  the  helpless,  find  in 
them  a  protector,  a  father  and  a  support.  In  a  word,  to  sum 
up  all,  may  Faneuil  live  in  them. 

'  May  charity,  that  most  excellent  of  graces,  that  beam 
from  the  breast  of  the  Father  of  Mercies,  which  so  soon  as 
ever  it  enters  our  bosoms  it  begins  our  happiness  ;  charity, 
the  joy  of  men,  of  angels,  of  Almighty  God  ;  which  com- 
pletes the  felicity  of  earth  and  heaven  ;  may  it  warm  the 
hearts  of  those  who  are  like  to  our  departed  friend  in  their 
fortunes,  to  resemble  him  too  in  his  bounties  :  May  there 
be  rais'd  up  some  new  benefactors  in  the  room  of  him  we 
have  lost,  who  shall,  if  possible,  rival  Faneuil's  spirit.  And 
may  there  always  remain  in  this  town,  the  same  grateful  sen- 
timents, the  same  virtuous  dispositions,  to  remember  their  ben- 
efactors with  honour.' 


238  HISTORY   OF   BOSTOK. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

"  He  rights  such  wrong  where  it  is  given, 
If  it  were  in  the  court  of  heaven." 

In  the  year  1747  there  happened  a  serious  tumult  in  Bos- 
ton. A  fleet  of  men  of  war  were  lying  in  the  harbour  of 
Nantasket,  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Knowles. 
Some  of  the  sailors  having  deserted,  the  commodore  thought 
it  reasonable  that  Boston  should  supply  him  with  as  many 
men  as  he  had  lost,  and  sent  his  boats  up  to  town  early  in 
the  morning  of  Nov.  17th,  '  and  surprised  not  only  as  many 
seamen  as  could  be  found  on  board  any  of  the  ships,  outward 
bound  as  well  as  others,  but  swept  the  wharves  also,  taking 
some  ship-carpenters'  apprentices  and  labouring  land-men. 
However  tolerable  such  a  surprise  might  have  been  in  Lon- 
don, it  could  not  be  borne  here.  The  people  had  not  been 
used  to  it,  and  men  of  all  orders  resented  it  ;  but  the  lower 
class  were  beyond  measure  enraged,  and  soon  assembled 
with  sticks,  clubs,  pitchmops,  &c.  They  first  seized  an  inno- 
cent lieutenant,  who  happened  to  be  ashore  upon  other  busi- 
ness. They  had  then  formed  no  scheme,  and  the  speaker 
of  the  House  [afterwards  Gov.  Hutchinson]  passing  by,  and 
assuring  them  that  he  knew  that  the  lieutenant  had  no  hand  in 
the  press,  they  suffered  him  to  be  led  off  to  a  place  of  safety. 
The  mob  increasing,  and  having  received  intelligence  that 
several  of  the  commanders  were  at  the  Gov.  [Shirley's]  house, 
it  was  agreed  to  go  and  demand  satisfaction.  The  house  was 
soon  surrounded,  and  the  court  or  yard  before  the  house,  fil- 
led ;  but  many  persons  of  discretion  inserted  themselves,  and 
prevailed  so  far  as  to  prevent  the  mob  from  entering.  Sever- 
al of  the  officers  had  planted  themselves  at  the  head  of  the 
stair-way  with  loaded  carbines,  and  seemed  determined  to 
preserve  their  liberty  or  lose  their  lives.  A  deputy  sheriff 
attempting  to  exercise  his  authority,  was  seized  by  the  mob 
and  carried  away  in  triumph  and  set  in  the  stocks,  which  af- 
forded them  diversion,  and  tended  to  abate  their  rage,  and 
disposed  them  to  separate  and  go  to  dinner.' 

'  As  soon  as  it  was  dusk,  several  thousand  people  assem- 
bled in  King-street,  below  the  town-house,  where  the  gener- 
al court  was  sitting.  Stones  and  brickbats  were  thrown 
through  the  glass  into  the  council  chamber.  The  governour, 
however,  with  several  gentlemen  of  the  council  and  house, 
ventured  into  the  balcony,  and    after  silence  was   obtained, 


HISTORY   OF  BOSTON.  239 

the  governour  in  a  well-judged  speech  expressed  his  great  dis- 
approbation of  the  impress,  and  promised  his  utmost  endea- 
vours to  obtain  the  discharge  of  every  one  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  at  the  same  time  gently  reproved  the  irregular  proceed- 
ings both  of  the  forenoon  and  evening.  Other  gentlemen  also 
attempted  to  persuade  the  people  to  disperse,  and  wait  to  see 
what  steps  the  general  court  would  take.  All  was  to  no  pur- 
pose. The  seizure  and  restraint  of  the  commanders  and  oth- 
er officers  who  were  in  town,  was  insisted  upon  as  the  only 
effectual  method  to  procure  the  release  of  the  inhabitants 
aboard  the  ships. 

'  It  was  thought  advisable  for  the  governour  to  withdraw  to 
his  house,  many  of  the  officers  of  the  militia  and  other  gentle- 
men attended  him.  A  report  was  raised,  that  a  barge  from 
one  of  the  ships  was  come  to  a  wharf  in  the  town.  The  mob 
flew  to  seize  it,  but  by  mistake  took  a  boat  belonging  to  a 
Scotch  ship,  and  dragged  it,  with  as  much  seeming  ease 
through  the  streets  as  if  it  had  been  in  the  water,  to  the  gov- 
ernour's  house,  and  prepared  to  burn  it  before  the  house  ;  but 
from  a  consideration  of  the  danger  of  setting  the  town  on  fire, 
were  diverted,  and  the  boat  was  burned  in  a  place  of  less 
hazard.  The  next  day  the  governour  ordered  that  the  milita- 
ry officers  of  Boston  should  cause  their  companies  to  be  mus- 
tered, and  to  appear  in  arms,  and  that  a  military  watch  should 
be  kept  the  succeeding  night ;  but  the  drummers  were  interrupt- 
ed, and  the  militia  refused  to  appear.  The  governour  did  not 
think  it  for  his  honour  to  remain  in  town  another  night,  and 
privately  withdrew  to  the  castle.  A  number  of  gentlemen 
who  had  some  intimation  of  his  design,  sent  a  message  to  him 
by  Colonel  Hutchinson,  assuring  him  they  would  stand  by 
him  in  maintaining  the  authority  of  government  and  restor- 
ing peace  and  order,  but  he  did  not  think  this  sufficient. 

'  The  governour  wrote  to  Mr.  Knowles,  representing  the 
confusions  occasioned  by  this  extravagant  act  of  his  officers  ; 
but  he  refused  all  terms  of  accommodation  until  the  command- 
ers and  other  officers  on  shore  were  suffered  to  go  on  board 
their  ships,  and  he  threatened  to  bring  up  his  ships  and 
bombard  the  town,  and  some  of  them  coming  to  sail,  caused 
different  conjectures  of  his  real  intention.  Captain  Erskine, 
of  the  Canterbury,  had  been  seized  at  the  house  of  Colonel 
Brinley  in  Roxbury,  and  given  his  parole  not  to  go  abroad, 
and  divers  inferior  officers  had  been  secured. 

The  17th,  18th,  and  part  of  the  19th,  the  council  and  house 
of  representatives,  sitting  in  the  town,  went  on  with  their  ordi- 
nary business,  not  willing  to  interpose  lest  they  should  encourage 
other  commanders  of  the  navy  to  future  acts  of  the  like  nature  ; 
but  towards  noon  of  the  19th,  some  of  the  principal  members 
of  the  house  began  to  think  more  seriously  of  the   dangerous 


240  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

consequences  of  leaving  the  governour  without  support,  when 
there  was  not  the  least  ground  of  exception  to  his  conduct. 
Some  high  spirits  in  the  town  began  to  question  whether  his 
retiring  should  be  deemed  a  desertion  or  abdication.  It  was 
moved  to  appoint  a  committee  of  the  two  houses  to  consider 
what  was  proper  to  be  done.  This  would  take  time,  and  was 
excepted  to,  and  the  speaker  was  desired  to  draw  up  such 
resolves  as  it  was  thought  necessary  the  house  should  imme- 
diately agree  to,  and  they  were  passed  by  a  considerable 
majority,  and  made  publick. 

'  In  the  house  of  representatives,  Nov.  19th,  1747. 

'  Resolved — that  there  has  been  and  still  continues,  a  tumul- 
tuous, riotous  assembling  of  armed  seamen,  servants,  negroes, 
and  others  in  the  town  of  Boston,  tending  to  the  destruction 
of  all  government  and  order. 

'  Resolved — that  it  is  incumbent  on  the  civil  and  military 
officers  in  the  Province  to  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost,  to 
discourage  and  suppress  all  such  tumultuous,  riotous  proceed- 
ings, whensoever  they  may  happen. 

'  Resolved — that  this  house  will  stand  by  and  support  with 
their  lives  and  estates  His  Ex.  the  governour  and  the  execu- 
tive part  of  the  government  in  all  endeavours  for  this  purpose. 

1  Resolved — that  this  house  will  exert  themselves  by  all  ways 
and  means  possible  in  redressing  such  grievances  as  his  majes- 
ty's subjects  are  and  have  been  under,  which  may  have  been 
the  cause  of  the  aforesaid  tumultuous,  disorderly  assembling 
together.  -  T.  Hutchinson,  Speaker.'' 

'  The  council  passed  a  vote,  ordering  that  Capt.  Erskine, 
and  all  other  officers  belonging  to  his  majesty's  ships,  should 
be  forthwith  set  at  liberty  and  protected  by  the  government, 
which  was  concurred  by  the  house.  As  soon  as  these  votes 
were  known,  the  tumultuous  spirit  began  to  subside.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  town  of  Boston  assembled  in  town  meeting  in 
the  afternoon,  having  been  notified,  to  consider,  in  general, 
what  was  proper  for  them  to  do  upon  this  occasion,  and  not- 
withstanding it  was  urged  by  many  that  all  measures  to  sup- 
press the  present  spirit  in  the  people  would  tend  to  encourage 
the  like  oppressive  acts  for  the  future,  yet  the  contrary  party 
prevailed,  and  the  town,  although  they  expressed  their  sense 
of  the  great  insult  and  injury  by  the  impress,  condemned  the 
tumultuous,  riotous  acts  of  such  as  had  insulted  the  governour 
and  the  other  branches  of  the  legislature,  and  committed 
many  other  heinous  offences. 

'  The  governour,  not  expecting  so  favourable  a  turn,  had 
written  to  the  secretary  to  prepare  orders  for  the  colonels  of 
the  regiments  of  Cambridge,  Roxbury,  and  Milton,  and  the 
regiment  of  horse,  to  have  their  officers  and  men  ready  to 
march  at  an  hour's  warning,  to  such  place  of  rendezvous  as 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON".  241 

h-e  should  direct  ;  but  the  next  day  there  was  an  uncommon 
appearance  of  the  militia  of  the  town  of  Boston,  many  persons 
taking  their  muskets  who  never  carried  one  upon  any  other 
occasion,  and  the  governour  was  conducted  (o  his  house  with 
as  great  parade  as  when  he  first  assumed  the  government. 
The  commodore*  dismissed  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  inhabitants 
who  had  been  impressed,  and  the  squadron  sailed,  to  the  joy 
of  the  rest  of  the  town.' 

On  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  Dec.  9,  of  the  same  year, 
the  Town  house  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  the  whole 
interior  of  it  was  consumed.  The  legislature  was  in  session, 
and  made  particular  inquiry  into  the  occasion  of  the  disaster  : 
tney  ascertained  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  House,  that  the  fire 
proceeded  from  the  wood-work  under  the  hearth.  The  se- 
lectmen immediately  offered  the  use  of  Faneuil-Hall,  but  the 
court  preferred  to  occupy  a  room  in  a  publick  house  '  of  the 
late  Luke  Vardy.'t  The  court  adjourned  on  the  12th,  and 
met  again  in  February.  When  the  subject  of  a  new  court- 
house was  introduced,  a  motion  prevailed  in  the  House  that 
the  same  should  be  built  in  Cambridge  :  this  vote  was  re- 
considered, and  another  obtained,  which  proposed  to  locate  it 
in  Roxbury.  This  was  non-concurred,  as  the  former  vote 
had  been,  by  the  Council.  At  length  a  resolve  passed,  that 
the  old  building  should  be  repaired,  and  one  half  the  charge 
be  borne  by  the  province,  one  quarter  by  the  county  of  Suf- 
folk, and  the  other  quarter  by  the  town  of  Boston. 

1  It  was  repaired  in  the  year  following  in  its  present  form, 
and  is  in  length  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet,  in  breadth  thirty- 
six  feet,  and  three  stories  high.  On  the  centre  of  the  roof 
is  a  tower,  consisting  of  three  stories,  finished  according  to  the 
Tuscan,  Borick,  and  Ionick  orders.  From  the  upper  story 
is  an  extensive  prospect  of  the  harbour,  into  the  bay,  and   of 

the  country  adjacent. The  lower   floor   of    the    building 

served  for  a  covered  walk  for  any  of  the  inhabitants.  On 
this  floor  were  kept  the  offices  of  the  clerks  of  the  supreme 
judicial  court  and  court  of  common  pleas.  The  chambers 
over  it  were  occupied  by  the  general  court,  the  senate  in  one, 
and  the  representative  body  in  the  opposite  chamber.  The 
third  story  was  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  committees  of 
the  general  court.  On  the  lower  floor  were  ten  pillars  of  the 
Dorick  order,  which  supported  the  chambers  occupied  by 
the  legislature.' 


*  Mr.  Knowles  was  afterwards  an  admiral  in  the  British  navy,  and  in  1770,  being  invited 
i>y  the  empress  of  Russia,  went  into  her  service. 
t  The  Royal  Exchange  tavern. 

31 


242  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  XLIIL 

"  In  red  and  wreathing  columns  flashed 
The  flame,  as  loud  the  ruin  crashed, 
And  here  and  there  the  crackling  dome 
Was  fired  before  the  exploding  bomb." 

We  pass  by  the  events  of  a  long  and  anxious  war  with  the 
French  and  Indian  natives,  which,  though  materially  affect- 
ing the  trade  and  prosperity  of  Boston,  in  common  with  other 
parts  of  the  American  provinces,  were  of  less  immediate  in- 
terest than  the  events  which  we  proceed  to  detail  from  the 
registers  of  the  times. 

On  Wednesday,  the  14th  of  Nov.  1759,  a  fire  happened  in 
some  wooden  buiidings,  a  little  to  the  southward  of  Oliver's 
bridge,  and  extended  to  the  lower  end  of  Water-street  and 
Milk-st.  to  Mr.  Hallowell's  ship-yard.  It  raged  with  great 
violence  for  two  hours.  Ten  or  twelve  dwelling-houses,  most 
of  them  large,  besides  a  number  of  shops  and  other  buildings, 
were  destroyed,  and  between  20  and  30  families  burnt  out. 
H.  Ex.  the  governour  [Pownall]  was  present  during  the  whole 
fire,  whose  direction  and  influence  was  very  serviceable,  and 
whose  paternal  care  and  tenderness  for  the  distressed  was 
quite  apparent. 

'  Between  XI.  and  XII.  o'clock  at  noon  on  Monday  the  17th 
of  March,  1760,  afire  broke  out  at  the  West  part  of  the 
town,  New  Boston  so  called,  by  some  accident,  whereby  a 
joiner's  shop  was  consumed  and  a  large  dwelling-house  ad- 
joining thereto  was  a  great  part  of  it  destroyed  and  many 
things  therein  burnt,  and  several  other  houses  much  damaged 
in  the  neighbourhood.  The  wind  blowing  very  high  at  N.E. 
it  was  a  considerable  time  before  it  was  extinguished.  The 
roof  of  the  W'est  meeting-house  caught  fire  in  several  places, 
but  by  the  dexterity  of  the  people  and  a  constant  supply  of 
water  a  stop  was  at  length  put  to  it.'     And 

On  the  day  following,  in  the  forenoon,  '  a  store  at  the  upper 
end  of  Griffin's  [Liverpool]  whf.  caught  fire.  The  chamber  was 
used  as  a  laboratory  by  a  detachment  of  the  British  artillery 
then  here.  The  circumstance  of  artillery  stores  being  in  the 
building,  gave  general  alarm,  and  for  a  time  the  citizens  were 
afraid  to  approach  near  it.  The  fire  communicated  to  some 
powder,  and  the  building  blew  up.  In  the  explosion  some 
men  were  hurt  :    two  grenadoes    and  some  small   arms  went 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  243 

off  but  did  no  damage.  The  extreme  parts  of  the  town  were 
affected  by  the  shock  of  the  explosion.  A  carpenter's  shop 
was  also  burnt.  It  stood  between  the  laboratory  and  some 
warehouses  on  the  end  of  the  wharf,  where  the  principal  ar- 
tillery stores  were  deposited  ;  but  the  wind  being  moderate, 
and  a  full  tide,  the  flames  were  prevented  from  spreading 
farther.' 

The  day  following,  different  parts  of  the  town,  at  different 
times,  were  alarmed  with  the  cry  of  fire  :  it  did  not,  however, 
then  get  to  a  considerable  head  any  where,  so  as  to  become 
dangerous.  By  these  fires  was  ushered  in,  that  far  greater 
and  more  fatal  one,  which  happened  on  the  20th  of  March. 
'  It  began  about  two  o'clock  yesterday  morning,'  says  a  paper 
of  Friday,  k  and  broke  out  in  the  dwelling-house  of  Mrs.Mary 
Jackson  and  Son,  at  the  Brazen  Head  in  Cornhill.  At  its 
first  appearance  there  was  little  wind  ;  but  this  calm  was  soon 
followed  by  a  smart  gale  from  the  N.  W.  Then  was  beheld 
a  perfect  torrent  of  blaze,  bearing  down  all  before  it  :  in  a 
seeming  instant  all  was  flame.  Three  or  four  large  buildings* 
in  the  front  of  the  street  were  burnt,  and  a  stop  was  put  to  it 
there,  at  the  house  improved  by  Mrs.  West  on  the  South,  and 
Mr.  Peter  Cotta  on  the  North.  But  the  fire  raged  most  vio- 
lently towards  the  East,  the  wind  being  strong,  and  carried 
all  before  it  from  the  back  sides  of  those  houses.  All  the 
stores  fronting  Pudding-lane,  together  with  every  dwelling- 
house,  from  thence,  (excepting  those  which  front  the  S.  side 
of  King-st.  and  a  store  of  Mr.  Spooner'sf  on  Water-st.)  to 
Quaker-lane,  and  from  thence,  only  leaving  a  large  old  wood- 
en house  belonging  to  the  late  Cornelius  Waldo,  Esq.  it  burnt 
every  house,  shop,  store,  out-house,  and  shed,  to  Oliver's 
Dock.  And  an  eddy  of  wind  carrying  the  fire  contrary  to 
its  course,  it  took  the  buildings  fronting  the  lower  part  of 
King-st.  and  destroyed  the  houses  from  the  corner  opposite 
the  Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern,  to  the  warehouse  of  Box  &  Aus- 
tin, leaving  only  the  warehouse  of  the  Hon.  John  Erving,  and 
the  dwelling-house  of  Mr.  Hastings  standing.  The  other 
brick  warehouses  towards  the  Long-whf.  were  considerably 
damaged. 

On  the  S.  E.  part,  the  fire  extended  from  Mr.  Torrey's,  the 
baker,  in  Water-st.  and  damaging  some  of  Mr.  Dalton's  new 
shops,   proceeded   to    Mr.  Hall's    working-house,    and  from 


*  Mrs.  Jackson  &  Son,  Widow  McNeal,   Jona.  Mason,   Mrs.  Quick    [now  the   sign  of  the 
Good  Samaritan,  formerly  Three  Kings]  northernmost  burnt. 

f  The  remains  of  this  old  house  stood  until  the  summer  of  1824,  when  a  new  brick  build- 
ing was  erected  on  the  spot. 


244 


HISTORY    OT"   BOSTON. 


thence  to  Milk-st.  and  consumed  every  house,  from  the  next 
to  Mr.  Calfe's  dwelling-house  [Julien's  Restorator],  to  the 
bottom  of  the  street. 

MR.  CALEF'S  DWELLING-HOUSE,  IN  1760. 


JULIEN'S  RESTORATOR, 
AT  THE   CORNER  OF  MILK  AND  CONGRESS-STREETS,  DEMOLISHED  IN  JULY  1824. 

And  in  the  opposite  direction  from  Mr.  Dowse's,  included,  it 
carried  all  before  it,  every  house,  to  Fort-hill,  except  the 
Hon.  Sec.  Oliver's  and  two  or  three  tenements  opposite  ;  as 
also  every  house,  warehouse,  shop,  and  store,  from  Oliver's 
Dock  along  Mr.  Hallowell's  ship-yard,  Mr.  H.'s  dwelling- 
house,  the  Sconce  of  the  S.  Battery,  all  the  buildings,  shops, 
and  stores,  on  Col.  Wendell's  whf.  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Hunt, 
ship-builder.  So  that,  from  Pudding-lane  to  the  water's  edge, 
there  is  not  a  building  to  be  seen,  excepting  those  on  the  side  of 
King-st.  and  the  others  mentioned  above.  Besides  which,  one 
large  ship  and  8  or  9  vessels  were  burnt.  The  fire  did  not 
extend  to  any  part  of  the  North  side  of  King-st.  There  was 
a  quantity  of  powder  in  the  Sconce,  which  blew  up,  throwing 
the  stones  and  timber  to  a  great  distance,  and  caused  a  very 
great  explosion.  The  rage  of  the  fire  was  not  over  till  near 
noon  ;  but  notwithstanding  its  long  continuance,  the  explosion, 
and  the  falling  of  walls  and  chimnies,  Divine  Providence  ap- 
peared merciful,  in  that  not  one  person's  life  was  lost,  and 
only  a  few  wounded.' 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  245 

Means  were  taken  by  the  authorities  of  the  town  immediate- 
ly to  ascertain  the  amount  of  losses,  and  a  spirit  of  sympathy 
was  every  where  excited  in  behalf  of  the  sufferers.  Every 
individual  furnished  a  schedule  of  every  article  he  missed, 
and  his  own  valuation  of  it,  to  a  committee  appointed  for  the 
purpose  :  where  they  considered  it  just,  they  adopted  such 
valuation  :  where  it  was  thought  too  high,  they  curtailed  it. 
The  whole  sum, thus  ascertained,  amounted  to  £71,112.  7s.  3 d. 
lawful  money  :  of  which  £44,121.  6s.  Sd.  was  in  real  estate. 
The  Quaker  meeting-house,  133  dwelling-houses,  36  barns,  63 
stores,  66  shops,  in  all  299  buildings,  were  destroyed.  Sarah 
Ayers  and  438  other  sufferers  petitioned  parliament  for  relief : 
our  accounts  do  not  say  that  any  was  obtained  :  from  other 
sources  the  donations  in  full,  up  to  the  22d  of  March,  1763, 
were  £22,107.  Is.  6d.  The  town  embraced  the  opportunity 
offered  for  improvements  in  the  streets,  and  a  law  was  passed, 
in  the  June  session  succeeding  the  fire,  to  regulate  the  building 
of  houses  on  the  spots  laid  waste. 

Gov.  Pownall  sailed  from  Boston,  June  3,  1760.  This  left 
the  administration  in  the  hands  of  Lt.Gov.  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son, until  the  arrival  of  His  Ex.  Francis  Bernard,  Esq.  on  the 
2d  of  August  following.  He  was  received  with  great  parade. 
The  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  (Greenleaf)  and  a  party  of  the  Gover- 
nour's  troop  of  guards  met  him  at  Wrentham,  and  accompa- 
nied him  to  Dedham,  where  the  Lt.  Gov.  and  some  of  the 
council,  attended  by  Brig.  Gen.  Royall  with  the  rest  of  the 
troop  of  guards,  waited  to  receive  him.  A  procession  of  gen- 
tlemen in  coaches  and  chariots  escorted  them  into  town  and 
proceeded  to  the  Province  House,*  where  the  company  of 
of  Cadets  under  G'ol.  Jarvis  was  drawn  up.  Thence  H.  E. 
walked  in  procession  to  the  Court-house  [Old  State-house], 
and  the  regiment  of  militia  in  this  town  commanded  by  Col. 
Phillips  being  paraded  in  the  main  street,  the  officers  paid  the 


*  The  Province  House  is  a  large  brick  building,  which  stands  in  the  rear  of  Province- 
house  row,  opposite  the  head  of  Milk-st.  It  is  three  stories  in  height,  stood  back  at  a  con- 
venient distance  from  the  street,  having  a  small  garden  plat  in  front  of  it,  and  a  fence  of 
iron  railing,  at  the  gate  of  which  were  two  large  trees,  which  agreeably  shaded  the  passage 
to  the  house.  The  entrance  was  by  an  ascent  of  stone  steps.  Upon  the  cupola  on  the  roof 
a  pedestal  supports  a  figure  of  bronze,  an  aboriginal  native  holding  in  his  hand  a  bow  and 
arrow,  well  executed  by  Dea.  Drowne,  formerly  an  ingenious  artist  in  the  town.  The  front 
of  the  house  was  ornamented  with  the  king's  arms,  elegantly  carved  and  gilt :  this  is  pre- 
served in  the  museum  of  the  Historical  .Society.  The  estate  has  been  given  by  the  State  to 
the  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  and  Asylum  for  the  Insane  ;  the  trustees  have  leased  it 
for  100  years,  and  the  lessees  erected  a  large  brick  pile  in  front  of  it,  to  be  used  for  shops, 
which  entirely  prevents  its  being  seen  from  the  street.  When  the  Province  first  obtained 
possession  of  it,  we  have  not  ascertained.  Its  builder  and  the  year  of  its  erection  are  proba- 
bly indicated  by  the  letters  and  date  2,  @  3P •  S»»  7  9  which  appear  on  the 
rail  that  surmounts  the  iron  balustrade  over  the  portico. 


246  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

standing  salute  as  H.  E.  passed  by.  At  the  Court-bouse  the 
governour's  commission  was  read,  and  H.  E.  received  the 
congratulations  of  the  Court,  which  was  succeeded  by  three 
vollies  from  the  troop  of  guards,  the  regiment  of  militia  and 
the  cadets,  and  three  huzzas  from  the  populace,  as  also  a  dis- 
charge from  the  guns  at  Castle  William,  the  batteries  in  this 
town  and  Charlestown,  and  from  the  Province  ship  King 
George  and  the  other  ships  in  the  harbour.  After  which  H.E. 
with  the  Lieut.  Gov.  and  Council,  a  number  of  officers  civil 
and  military,  and  of  the  clergy  and  other  gentlemen,  were 
entertained  with  an  elegant  dinner,  provided  at  Faneuil-hall. 

The  death  of  king  George  II.  took  place  on  the  25th  of  Oc- 
tober, and  on  the  27th,  his  grandson  George  William,  prince 
of  Wales,  was  proclaimed  in  London.  Authentick  advices  of 
these  facts  were  received  at  Boston  in  precisely  two  months 
after  their  occurrence,  and  ceremonies  very  similar  to  those 
just  related  took  place  on  the  proclamation  of  king  George 
the  Third,  from  the  balcony  of  the  Court-house  :  63  guns 
being  fired  at  the  Castle,  a  dinner  at  the  Hall,  and  illumina- 
tions in  the  evening.  On  the  first  of  the  new  year,  two  days 
after,  there  was  a  general  mourning  on  account  of  George  II. 
All  the  bells  in  the  town  began  tolling  in  the  morning  and  con- 
tinued most  part  of  the  day,  and  minute  guns  to  the  number 
of  77,  the  years  of  His  Majesty's  age,  were  discharged  at  the 
Castle.  These  were  the  last  exhibitions  here  of  a  similar 
nature  on  the  like  occasions,  and  furnish  some  notion  of  the 
manner  in  which  such  events  had  been  celebrated  ever  since 
the  new  charter. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1761,  the  weather  at  Boston  was 
extremely  cold,  so  that  the  harbour  was  for  two  or  three  days 
almost  filled  with  ice.  On  Tuesday  evening,  the  13th,  '  at 
about  half  an  hour  after  nine  o'clock,  a  violent  fire  broke  out 
in  one  of  the  shops  opposite  the  north  side  of  Faneuil-Hall 
market  on  Dock-sq.  which  entirely  consumed  all  the  row  of 
wooden  buildings,  from  the  store  occupied  by  the  Hon.  Thos* 
Hubbard,  Esq.  to  the  swing  bridge.  These  buildings  belong- 
ed to  the  town,  and  were  leased  to  a  number  of  tradesmen, 
some  of  whom  had  their  whole  stock  therein,  most  of  which 
was  either  consumed  or  lost.  There  were  several  small 
schooners  in  the  dock,  but  they  received  little  damage,  nor 
did  the  fire  proceed  to  the  N.  side  of  the  dock  ;  on  the  con- 
trary, it  communicated  itself  to  that  stately  edifice,  Faneuil- 
Hall  market,  the  whole  of  which  was  entirely  consumed,  ex- 
cepting the  brick  walls,  which  are  left  standing.  The  fire 
then  proceeded  to  a  number  of  shops  improved  by  some 
tradesmen,  on  the  South  side  of  the  market,  and  consumed 
them  also.  The  severity  of  the  weather  was  such  that  many 
persons  could  scarce  stand  it,   and   the  water  which  issued 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  247 

from  the  engines  congealed  into  particles  of  ice  before  it  fell. 
No  dwelling-house  was  consumed.  The  records  and  papers, 
with  such  other  things  as  could  be  conveniently  removed, 
were  mostly  saved.  March  23d,  the  town  voted  to  repair 
the  building,  and  the  Gen.  Court  granted  the  town  a  lottery 
for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense-* 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

I  look  with  rapture  at  the  opening  dawn, 
And  view  the  glories  of  the  rising  morn, 
When  Justice  holds  her  sceptre  o'er  the  land, 
To  rescue  Freedom  from  a  tyrant  hand. 

Mrs.  Warren. 

At  the  close  of  Chapter  xxxiv.  we  quoted  the  observation  that 
'  a  party  was  formed  which  opposed  submission  to  the  charter.' 
Their  ground  of  opposition  was  the  extension,which  the  char- 
ter gave  to  the  royal  power  and  influence  in  and  over  the 
colony.  It  would  be  an  instructive  history,  that  should  ex- 
hibit to  us  in  minute  detail  the  course  pursued  by  that  party, 
from  the  commencement  of  Gov.  Phipps'  administration  to 
that  of  Gov.  Bernard.  We  might  discover  in  it  the  progres- 
sive operation  of  the  principles,  and  the  regular  and  constant 
increase  of  the  spirit,  which  in  event  produced  the  American 
Revolution.  But  such  a  detail  would  be  too  foreign  from  the 
subject  of  this  work.  The  beginning  of  the  reign  of  George  III. 
was  destined  to  be  marked  by  the  more  decisive  steps  of  the  party 
alluded  to,  and  we  therefore  proceed  to  note  the  events  that 
occurred  in  Boston,  which  we  suppose  to  have  been  the  com- 
mencement of  the  overt  acts,  which  resulted  in  open  rebellion 
and  eventual  independence. 

'  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  immediately  upon  the  conquest  of 
Canada,  in  1759,  Great-Britain  seemed  to  be  seized  with  a 
jealousy  against  the  colonies,  and  then  concerted  the  plan  of 
changing  their  forms  of  government,  of  restraining  their  trade 
within  narrower  bounds,    and  raising  a  revenue  within  them 


*  The  first  meeting  at  Faneuil-Hall,  after  it  was  repaired,  was  on  March  14th,  1763.  Some 
slight  alterations  were  made  in  some  parts  of  the  work,  but  the  size  of  the  building  remain- 
ed the  same.  The  enlargement,  by  which  it  was  extended  in  width  to  80  feet,  and  a  third 
story  added,  was  proposed  by  the  selectmen  in  May,  1805,  and  completed  in  the  course  of 
the  next  twelve  months.  The  white  line  in  our  view  of  the  Hall  exhibits  the  line  of 
demarcation  between  the  original  budding  and  the  addition. 


248 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


by  authority  of  parliament.  The  first  demonstration  of  the 
new  course,  intended  to  be  pursued,  was  the  arrival  of  an  or- 
der sent  from  the  Board  of  Trade  to  the  custom-house  officers 
in  America,  to  apply  to  the  supreme  courts  of  justice  for  Writs 
of  Assistance,  to  enable  them  to  carry  into  a  more  rigorous 
execution  certain  acts  of  parliament  called  the  Acts  of  trade. 
In  Massachusetts,  Charles  Paxton,  Esq.  who  was  at  the  head 
of  the  customs  in  Boston,  directed  his  deputy  at  Salem,  Mr. 
Cockle,  in  Nov.  1760,  to  petition  the  court  then  sitting  in  that 
town  for  the  grant  of  such  writs.  The  court  expressed  great 
doubt  of  the  legality  of  the  writ,  and  of  the  authority  of  the 
court  to  grant  it :  but  as  the  application  was  on  the  part  of  the 
crown,  it  could  not  be  dismissed  without  a  hearing,  which 
\vas  fixed  for  the  next  term  of  the  court,  to  be  held  in  Feb. 
1761,  at  Boston,  when  the  question  was  ordered  to  be  argu- 
ed. The  proposed  form  of  this  writ  was  such  as  to  give  the 
officer  holding  it,  upon  bare  suspicion,  power  to  enter  any 
houses,  ships,  cellars,  stores,  chests,  or  magazines,  to  search 
for  goods  that  had  been  imported  contrary  to  the  acts  of 
trade. 

Beside  their  natural  zeal  to  merit  the  approbation  of  the 
ministry,  the  custom-house  officers  had  the  still  stronger  in- 
ducement of  the  prospect  of  accumulating  wealth,  to  exercise 
rigour  in  the  performance  of  their  official  duties.  Hence  a 
rooted  aversion  subsisted  between  them  and  the  people  con- 
cerned in  the  foreign  trade  of  the  province.  And  while  the 
question  of  the  issue  of  Writs  of  Assistance  was  pending,  a 
memorial  was  framed,  apparently  with  a  view  to  counteract 
their  project  for  gain,  and  presented  to  the  General  Court, 
Dec.  19,  1760,  charging  them  with  appropriating  to  their  own 
use,  a  portion  of  the  goods  forfeited,  which  of  right  accrued 
to  the  province.  The  memorialists  were  58-  in  number,  and 
included  the  most  eminent  merchants  of  Boston  :  viz. 


John  Avery 
Jona.  Williams 
Tim.  Fitch 
John  Dennie 
John  Waldo 
Thos.  Greene,  jr. 
Wm.  Molineaux 
John  Boylston 
John  Browne 
Benj.  Hallowell 
JMelatiah  Bourne 
Thos.  Gray 
Sam.  Austin 
Josh.  Winslow 
Ezelt.  Goldthwsit 


Sam.  Dexter 
John  Greene 
John  Tudor 
Sol.  Davis 
John  Amory 
John  Gooch 
Jona.  Mason 
Peter  Boyer 
Sam.  Grant 
Sam.  Hughes 
Benj.  Austin 
Geo.  Erving 
Jos.  Green 
Sam.  Phil.  Savage 
James  Perkins 


Thos.  Boylston 
John  Rowe 
Tim.  Newell 
Jos.  Domett 
John  Spooner 
Wm.  Greenleaf 
John  Welch,  jr. 
John  Scollay 
John  Baker 
Wm.  Thompson 
Chr.  Clarke 
John  Erving,  jr. 
John  Powell 
Hath.  Holmes 


John  Barrett 
Edw.  Davis 
Fitch  Pool 
Thos.  Greene 
Kend«rson  Inches 
Dan'l  Malcom 
Thos.  Tyler 
Jona.  Amory 
James  Thompson 
Sam.  Welles,  jr. 
Sam.  Wentworth 
Arnold  Welles 
Jona.  Sayward 
James  Boutineau 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  249 

These  may  perhaps  be  considered  the  first  men,  who  set 
themselves  in  open  array  against  the  officers  of  the  crown. 
Their  memorial  was  referred  to  a  joint  committee  of  the 
House  and  Council,  which  reported  that  the  province  was 
illegally  and  unjustly  kept  out  of  £475,  9.9.  lid.  and  that 
the  Treasurer  should  be  empowered  to  demand  and  sue  for 
the  money.  Gov.  Bernard  opposed  his  negative  to  this  pro- 
position, but  at  last  assented  to  it  in  a  message,  Jan.  31,  1761, 
"  hoping  that  they  would  not  require  of  him  such  another 
proof  of  his  great  desire  of  preserving  a  good  understanding 
with  them."* 

When  the  time  appointed  for  the  discussion  of  the  question 
of  Writs  of  Assistance  drew  near,  the  mercantile  part  of  the 
community  was  in  a  state  of  great  anxiety  as  to  the  result. 
The  officers  of  the  customs  called  upon  James  Otis,  jun.  esq. 
as  advocate-general  in  the  court  of  admiralty,  to  argue  their 
cause.  But  he  would  not  prostitute  his  office  to  the  further- 
ance of  an  oppressive  act ;  and  being  unwilling  to  retain  a 
station,  in  which  he  might  be  expected  to  argue  in  favour  of 
such  odious  measures,  he  resigned  ;  and  the  merchants  of 
Boston  and  Salem  immediately  engaged  him  and  Oxenbridge 
Thacher,  jun.  esq.  to  appear  in  support  of  a  counter  petition, 
which  they  had  presented  to  the  court. 

Mr.  Otis  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Barnstable  ;  received 
his  education  at  Harvard  College  ;  graduated  in  1743  ;  pur- 
sued the  study  of  law  in  Boston  under  the  direction  of  Jeremi- 
ah Gridley,  Esq.  one  of  the  principal  lawyers  and  civilians  of 
the  day  ;  commenced  practice  in  Plymouth  ;  and  about  the 
year  1750  removed  to  Boston,  and  very  soon  rose  to  the  first 
rank  in  his  profession.  His  business  as  a  lawyer  became 
very  extensive,  and  his  reputation  was  firmly  established  for 
learning,  eloquence,  and  the  most  high-minded  integrity.  He 
was  now  in  the  vigour  of  manhood,  just  thirty-six  years  of 
age.  An  opponent  describes  him  as  '  a  plump,  round-faced, 
smooth  skin,  short  neck,  eagle-eyed  politician  ;'  and  another 
writer  dresses  him  in  a  wig  and  a  black  gown. 

Mr.  Thacher  was  at  this  time  one  of  the  heads  of  the  bar 
in  Boston.  His  family  had  always  been  distinguished  in  the 
province,  and  his  own  character  and  manners  were  such  as 
to  secure  affection  and  esteem  :  his  patriotism  was  the  most 
pure  and  ardent,  joined  to  a  quick  perception  of  the  views  of 
those  in  power.  He  was  a  Bostonian  by  birth,  and  now 
about  41  years  of  age. 


*  Minot,  ii.  86.  Printed  Journal  of  Gen.  Court,  pp.  231.  339.  Also  Sup.  Court  Rec.  Aug. 
term,  1761,  p.  235,  where,  in  an  appeal  from  the  Inferior  Court,  judgment  is  reversed  and 
Paxton  recovers  against  Harrison  Gray,  Treasurer,  costs  taxed  U.  &$>  9rf. 

32 


/ 


250  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  trial  took  place  in  the  Council  Chamber  of  the  Old 
Town-house.  This  room  was  situated  at  the  east  end  of  that 
building  :  it  was  an  imposing  and  elegant  apartment,  orna- 
mented with  two  splendid  full-length  portraits  of  Charles  II. 
and  James  II.  The  judges  in  those  days,  in  conformity  to 
European  practice,  attached  a  part  of  their  official  dignity  to 
a  peculiar  costume,  which  in  later  times  they  have  here  dis- 
carded. Their  dress  was  composed  of  voluminous  wigs, 
broad  bands,  and  robes  of  scarlet  cloth.  They  were  five  in 
number,  including  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson  who  presided  as 
chief  justice.*  The  room  was  filled  with  all  the  officers  of 
government,  and  the  principal  citizens,  to  hear  the  arguments 
in  a  cause  that  inspired  the  deepest  solicitude. 

In  consequence  of  Mr.  Otis's  resignation,  the  task  of  sup- 
porting the  petition  for  the  Writs  devolved  on  Mr.  Gridley, 
•who  was  then  attorney-general.  He  opened  the  case  with 
much  learning,  ingenuity,  and  dignity,  urging  every  point  and 
authority,  that  could  be  found  upon  the  most  diligent  search  ; 
but  made  all  his  reasoning  depend  on  this  consideration — 
"  if  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain  is  the  sovereign  legisla- 
ture of  the  British  empire."  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Thacher  on  the  opposite  side,  whose  reasoning  was  pertinent 
and  able,  delivered  in  a  tone  of  great  mildness  and  modera- 
tion, which  convinced  his  hearers  that  he  was  advocating  the 
cause  of  truth  and  justice.  As  soon  as  he  had  concluded, 
Otis  burst  forth  as  with  '  a  flame  of  fire  :  with  a  promptitude 
of  classical  allusion,  a  depth  of  research,  a  rapid  summary  of 
historical  events  and  dates,  a  profusion  of  legal  authorities,  a 
prophetick  glance  of  bis  eyes  into  futurity,  and  a  rapid  tor- 
rent of  impetuous  eloquence,  he  hurried  away  all  before  him. 
'Then  and  there,'  says  President  John  Adams,  '  was  the  first 
scene  of  the  first  act  of  opposition  to  the  arbitrary  claims  of 
Great  Britain.  Then,  and  there,  the  child  Independence  was 
born.  Every  man  of  an  immense  crowded  audience  appear- 
ed to  me  to  go  away,  as  I  did,  ready  to  take  arms  against 
Writs  of  Assistance.'  The  court  adjourned  for  consideration, 
and,  at  the  close  of  that  term,  the  question  was  continued  to 
the  next.t 

'  An  epoch  in  publick  affairs  may  be  dated  from  this  trial. 
Political  parties  became  more  distinctly  formed,  and  their 
several  adherents  were  more  marked  and  decided.  "  Taxa- 
tion without  representation  is  tyranny"  (a  phrase  that  fell  from 
Otis  in  the  debate,)  became  a  common  maxim  in  the  mouth  of 


*  The  associate  judges  were  Benja.  Lynde,  John  dishing,  Chambers  Russell,  Peter 
Oliver, 
t  Thus  far  we  follow  Tutor's  Life  of  Otis,  p.  53-86,  respecting  the  Writ; 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  2S1 

all  the  friends  of  liberty.  The  crown  officers  and  their  fol- 
lowers adopted  openly  the  pretensions  of  the  British  ministry 
and  parliament,  proclaiming  a  blind  submission  as  the  only 
safe  or  reasonable  alternative.  The  people  of  Boston  showed 
plainly  to  which  party  they  belonged,  by  the  election  of  Mr. 
Otis,  almost  unanimously,  as  a  representative  for  the  town  in 
the  next  general  court.  His  colleagues  were  Royal  Tyler, 
John  Phillips,  and  Thomas  Cushing,  all  of  them  men  of  great 
weight  in  society.  Gov.  Bernard  perceived  the  spirit  that 
was  rising,  and  some  of  his  friends,  whose  wisdom  has  been 
proved  by  events,  predicted  that  '  out  of  this  election  a  fac- 
tion would  arise,  which  would  shake  the  province  to  its  foun- 
dation.' The  Governour,  in  his  speech  at  the  opening  of  the 
Gen.  Court,  advised  them  to  lay  aside  all  divisions,  and  to 
give  no  attention  to  declamations  tending  to  promote  a  sus- 
picion of  the  civil  rights  of  the  people  being  in  danger.  They 
replied,  that  they  knew  nothing  of  any  such  parties  as  he  de- 
scribed, and  were  not  in  the  least  degree  suspicious  ;  but 
firmly  expressed  their  intention  to  see.  for  themselves,  wheth- 
er the  rights  of  the  people  were  or  were  not  in  danger. 

A  final  l  hearing  was  had  before  the  Sup.  Court  of  Judica- 
ture, upon  the  petition  of  the  officers  of  the  customs  for  a  Writ 
of  Assistance  on  Wednesday,'  the  18th  of  November.  The 
whole  day  and  evening,  (says  the  Boston  Gazette  of  the  23d) 
'was  spent  in  the  arguments,  and  nothing  could  have  induced 
one  to  believe  they  were  not  conclusive  against  the  petition, 
but  the  judgment  of  the  court  immediately  given  in  favour  of 
it.'  The  papers  soon  exhibited  the  dissatisfaction  which  this 
decision  occasioned.  On  the  7th  of  Dec.  a  piece  appeared 
signed  '  A  fair  trader,'  complaining  that  the  Acts  of  trade 
were  no  where  executed  with  such  rigour  as  in  this  colony, 
and  concluding  thus  :  '  We  want  nothing  but  to  be  as  free  as 
others  are,  and  that  others  should  be  restrained  as  well  as 
we.     This  is  reasonable.     We  have  a  Right  to  claim  it.' 

The  part,  which  Mr.  Otis  had  taken,  designated  him  as  the 
friend  of  the  people,  and  they  therefore  took  deep  interest  in 
a  controversy  which  took  place  in  the  papers  between  him 
and  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson,  respecting  the  currency  of  the 
province.  Otis  improved  the  opportunity  to  turn  their 
thoughts  to  the  circumstance  of  His  Honour's  enjoying  so 
many  lucrative  offices  as  were  united  in  his  person,  viz. 
that  of  Lieut.  Gov.  with  the  emoluments  of  captain  of  the 
castle,  a  member  of  the  Council,  Judge  of  Probate,  and 
Chief  Justice  of  the  supreme  court.  O.'s  first  piece  on  this 
subject  appeared  Dec.  21,  1761,  and  the  last  Jan.  11,  1762. 
c  The  question  was  settled  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  legisla- 
ture, according  to  the  principles  which  Otis  had  advanced.' 
Having  thus  obtained  an  ascendancy,  the  majority  attempted 


252  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

to  retrieve  the  ground  which  they  had  lost  by  the  decision  on 
the  Writs  of  Assistance,  and  a  bill  was  prepared,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  was,  to  prevent  the  issuing  of  those  writs  to 
any  person  but  a  custom-house  officer,  and  that  upon  special 
information  on  oath  ;  but  the  attempt  was  checked  by  the 
Governour's  refusal  to  give  his  assent  to  the  bill.  An  ineffec- 
tual effort  was  also  made  to  exclude  the  Justices  of  the 
Sup.  Court  from  a  seat  in  the  Council  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. These  conflicts,  though  sometimes  unavailing, 
served  to  prove  the  strength  of  parties,  and  to  keep  alive 
the  growing  jealousy    between    them.* 

Mr.  Otis  and  his  colleagues  were  re-elected  in  May,  1762, 
with  a  decided  approbation,  in  the  Gazette,  of  the  course 
they  had  pursued  in  regard  to  the  points  in  controversy. 
Brigadier-General  Timothy  Ruggles,  from  Hardwick,  in  the 
county  of  Worcester,  the  leader  of  the  government  party  in 
the  House,  was  chosen  speaker,  at  the  May  session  ;  and  the 
court  was  prorogued,  June  12th,  with  some  expressions  of 
pleasure  from  the  Governour  for  their  good  conduct.  In 
September  they  met  again,  and  '  on  the  14th'  His  Excellency 
sent  a  message  informing  the  house,  that,  to  quiet  the  fears*of 
those  concerned  in  the  fishing  vessels,  he  had  increased  the 
armament  of  the  Massachusetts  sloop,  and  sent  her  out  for 
their  protection.  A  little  paper  accompanied  the  message, 
with  a  short  account  of  the  difference  to  the  province  by  the 
Gov.  and  Council's  enlarging  the  establishment,  which 
amounted  to  about  £72.  This  message  gave  rise  to  a  re- 
markable discussion,  and  this  trifling  expenditure  may  be 
considered  as  one  of  the  preparatory  causes  of  the  revolu- 
tion. It  was  not  the  measure  itself,  nor  the  expense  of  it, 
that  gave  the  House  so  much  uneasiness,  but  the  manner  of 
it  ;  that  is,  the  enlarging  the  establishment  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  house,  and  paying  for  it  without  their 
privity  or  consent.  The  message  was  referred  to  a  commit- 
tee, of  which  Mr.  Otis  was  chairman,  who  reported  a  remon- 
strance, addressed  to  the  Gov.  in  which  they  declared  that 
the  proceeding  was  '  in  effect  taking  from  the  House  their 
most  darling  privilege,  the  right  of  originating  all  taxes. — No 
necessity  can  be  sufficient  to  justify  a  house  of  representatives 
in  giving  up  such  a  privilege  ;  for  it  would  be  of  little  consequence 
to  the  people,  zvhether  they  were  subjects  to  George  or  Lewis,  the 
king  of  G.B.  or  the  French  king,  if  both  were  arbitrary,  as 
both  would  be,  if  both  could  levy  taxes  without  Parliament,'' 

'  When  the  passage  in  Italics  was  read,  Mr.  Paine  a  member 

*  Town  Records,  March  8,  1762.  '  Upon  consideration  of  that  clause  in  the  warrant,  viz. 
that  the  town  will  take  such  methods  as  shall  be  judged  necessary  for  the  Incorporation  of 
it,  the  question  was  put,  whether  the  town  would  take  any  such  steps  ?  Fassed  in  tfie  nega- 
tive almoU  unanimously.' 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTOA*.  253 

from  Worcester,  cried  out,  Treason,  treason  !  but  after  a  most 
animated  speech  from  Otis,  the  answer  was  passed  entire  by 
a  large  majority,  and  Otis  was  appointed  one  of  the  commit- 
tee to  present  it  to  the  Governour.'  H.  E.  '  was  so  displeased 
at  this  passage  that  he  sent  a  letter  to  the  speaker,  returning 
the  message  of  the  House  and  recommending  earnestly,  that 
it  might  not  be  entered  upon  the  minutes  as  it  then  stood. 
After  some  debate  the  exceptionable  clause  was  struck  out, 
but  enough  remained  to  excite  a  vindication  from  the  Gover- 
nour, which  he  sent  by  the  secretary  at  the  same  time  that  he 
gave  the  house  notice  to  attend  him  in  the  council  chamber  to 
be  prorogued. 

Soon  after  this  separation,  Otis  published  a  pamphlet,*  giv- 
ing an  account  of  all  these  occurrences  and  justifying  the 
course  pursued  by  the  house.  This  production  has  been  con- 
sidered the  original  source,  from  which  all  subsequent  argu- 
ments against  taxation  were  derived.!  The  principal  stress 
in  the  argument  of  Mr.  Otis  was  laid  against  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  measure,  and  the  position  assumed  by  the  Gover- 
nour was  not  only  shown  to  be  untenable,  but  the  dan- 
gerous tendency  of  constructive  power  was  pointed  out  with  a 
clearness  and  force,  that  effectually  roused  the  publick  atten- 
tion to  guard  against  every  step  of  arbitrary  power  in  future. 

In  the  winter  session  of  1762-3  another  occasion  of  dispute 
was  afforded  by  an  application  from  the  Attorney-General  for 
remuneration  for  his  official  services,  which  was  so  managed 
as  to  give  the  popular  party  a  triumph,  at  the  same  time  that 
the  officer  received  the  compensation  that  was  honourably 
due  to  him.  And  this  subject  had  not  lost  its  interest,  before 
another  excitement  was  produced  on  still  a  different  ground. 
The  project  of  sending  a  bishop  to  America  had  been  in  agi- 
tation for  ten  or  fourteen  years. j  and  the  minds  of  people 
were  well  prepared  for  an  attack  upon  the  established  church. 
Doctor  E.  Miller,  who  was  a  missionary  from  the  society  for 
propagating  the  gospel,  died  at  Braintree  where 

he  had  been  officiating  to  an  episcopal  church.  The  manner 
in  which  his  death  was  noticed  in  one  of  the  Boston  papers 
brought  on  a  controversy,  in  which  most  of  the  dissenters 
found  themselves  ranged  on  one  side,  in  opposition  to  the  few 
adherents  to  the  church,  among  whom  were  most  of  the  de- 
pendents on  the  crown.  These  writings  may  therefore  be 
considered  as  having  increased  the  divisions,  which  were  ris- 
ing in  Massachusetts. 


*  "  A  Vindication  of  the  conduct  of  the  House  of  Representatives,"  &c.  by  James  Otis,  Esq. 
a  member  of  said  house."    It  was  published  Nov.  15,  1762. 
t  Franklin  had  urged  similar  arguments   to  Gov.  Shirley,  1754.     F.  was  here,  Oct.  1763. 
t  See  News-letter,  Dec.  13,  1750,  and  Ev.  Post,  Aug.  22, 1763. 


254  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

The  people  of  Boston  manifested  their  adherence  to  the 
popular  side  by  the  re-election  of  Otis,  Tyler,  and  Cushing, 
for  their  representatives,  with  the  addition  of  Oxen  bridge 
Thacher  Jr.  instead  of  Col.  Phillips,  who  had  just  deceased 
(April,  26,  1763.)  Great  efforts  had  been  made  to  prevent 
the  choice  of  Mr.  Otis  ;  his  motives  had  been  traduced,  and 
his  conduct  attributed  to  personal  feeling  rather  than  zeal  for 
the  publick  good.  He  had  however  defended  himself,  in  his 
own  name,  to  the  complete  discomfiture  of  his  enemies. 

Through  the  remainder  of  the  year  there  were  occasional 
publications,  calculated  to  keep  alive  the  spirit,  which  had 
displayed  itself  in  the  Province :  there  was  no  torpor  to  in- 
vite encroachments  upon  civil  rights  by  stealth,  but  rather  an 
excessive  anxiety  about  the  course,  which  government  might 
resolve  to  pursue,  relative  to  the  regulations  of  trade.  The 
first  evidence  on  this  point  was  '  an  act  for  the  further  im- 
provement of  H.  M.  revenue,  for  the  encouragement  of  offi- 
cers making  seizures,  and  for  the  prevention  of  the  clandestine 
running  of  goods,'  which  was  published  in  Boston,  Sept.  22dt 
and  followed  on  the  16th  of  November,  by  Gov.  Bernard's 
proclamation  for  aid  and  assistance  in  the  execution  of  it. 

In  the  opening  of  the  year  1764,  Boston  was  visited  again 
with  the  small  pox,  which  continued  its  ravages  till  the  end 
of  June.*  The  melancholy  that  attended  the  prevalence  of 
this  horrible  disorder,  was  rendered  still  more  sober,  by  the 
daily  expectation  of  unwelcome  news  from  England.  Notice 
of  resolutions  in  parliament  proposing  duties  on  various  foreign 
articles  imported  into  the  colonies,  and  a  duty  upon  other  arti- 
cles, the  produce  of  the  colonies,  exported  to  any  other 
place  than  Great  Britain,  was  received  early  in  May.  Antici- 
pating the  worst,  the  people  of  B.oston,  having  re-elected  the 
same  representatives  on  the  15th  of  May,  appointed  Richard 
Dana,  Esq.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  John  Ruddock,  Esq.  Nathl. 
Bethune,  Esq.  and  Jos.  Green,  Esq.  a  committee  to  prepare 
such  instructions,  to  be  given  to  the  representatives,  as  the  ex- 
igencies of  the  times  required.  On  the  24th  the  committee 
reported  and  the  town  approved   and    adopted  their   report. 

In  this  paper  the  town  claim  'the  constitutional  right  of  ex- 
pressing their  mind'  to  their  representatives  '  upon  particular 
matters'  and  charge  them  to  maintain  '  the  invaluable  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  province — as  well  those  rights,  which 
are  derived  to   us  by  the  royal  charter,  as  those  which,  being 


*  It  may  be  noted  here,  that  the  population  of  the  town  was  ascertained  by  actual  enume- 
ration to  be  in  1742 16,382  souls,  including  1374  blacks. 

1752 15,731     „  „  1541     „ 

1765 15,520     „ 

The  gazettes  of  May,  1764,  give  the  names  of  twenty   physicians,  (besides  Dr.  Jackson  ojf 
Portsmouth,)  who  inoculated  the  poor  of  the  town. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  25S 

prior  to  and  independent  on  it,  we  hold  essentially  as  free-born 
subjects  of  G.  B.'  Then  they  prescribe  the  course  they  wish 
to  have  pursued  in  relation  to  members  of  the  General  Court 
holding  offices  under  the  crown  or  the  governour,  the  excise 
laws,  salaries  of  judges,  war  expences;  and  having  mentioned 
the  importance  of  free  trade  to  the  prosperity  of  the  town,  and 
the  evils  apprehended  from  the  measures  of  government,  they 
proceed  to  say, 

'  There  is  now  no  room  for  further  delay,  we  therefore  ex- 
pect that  you  will  use  your  earliest  endeavours  in  the  General 
Assembly  that  such  methods  may  be  taken  as  will  effectually 
prevent  these  proceedings  against  us.  By  a  proper  represen- 
tation, we  apprehend,  it  may  easily  be  made  to  appear,  that 
such  severities  will  prove  detrimental  to  G.  B.  itself :  upon 
which  account  we  have  reason  to  hope  that  an  application, 
even  for  a  repeal  of  the  act,  should  it  be  already  past,  will  be 
successful.  It  is  the  trade  of  the  colonies  that  renders  them 
beneficial  to  the  mother  country.  Our  trade,  as  it  now  and 
always  has  been  conducted,  centres  in  G.  B.  and  in  return 
for  manufactures  affords  her  more  ready  cash,  beyond  any 
comparison,  than  can  possibly  be  expected  by  the  most  san- 
guine promoters  of  these  extraordinary  methods. 

'  But  what  still  heightens  our  apprehensions  is,  that  these 
unexpected  proceedings  may  be  preparatory  to  new  taxations 
upon  us  :  for  if  our  trade  may  be  taxed,  why  not  our  lands  ? 
why  not  the  produce  of  our  lands  and  every  thing  we  possess 
or  make  use  of  ?  This  we  apprehend  annihilates  our  charter 
right  to  govern  and  tax  ourselves.  It  strikes  at  our  British 
privileges,  which  as  we  have  never  forfeited  them  we  hold 
in  common  with  our  fellow  subjects,  who  are  natives  of  Britain. 
If  taxes  are  laid  upon  us  in  any  shape  without  our  having  a  le- 
gal representation  where  they  are  made,  are  we  not  reduced 
from  the  character  of  free  subjects  to  the  miserable  state  of 
tributary  slaves? 

'  We  therefore  earnestly  recommend  it  to  you  to  use  your 
utmost  endeavours  to  obtain  in  the  Gen.  Assembly  all  neces- 
sary instruction  and  advice  to  our  Agent  at  this  most  critical 
juncture  *  *  *  *  that  he  may  be  able  in  the  most  humble 
and  pressing  manner  to  remonstrate  for  us  all  those  rights 
and  privileges,  which  justly  belong  to  us  either  by  charter  or 
birth  :  in  acknowledged  dependence  upon  and  subordination 
to  G.  B.  As  H.  M.'s  other  N.  American  colonies  are  embark- 
ed with  us  in  this  most  important  bottom,  we  further  desire 
you  to  use  your  endeavours  that  their  weight  may  be  added 
to  that  of  this  province,  that  by  the  united  application  of  all 
who  are  aggrieved,  all  may  happily  obtain  redress.' 

The  acts  were  passed,  which  had  been  recommended,  ex- 
cept that  by  which  it   was  proposed  to  lay  a  stamp  duty  on 


256  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON-. 

all  written  or  printed  papers,  in  the  colonies  :  this  was  defer- 
red for  one  year's  consideration,  and  to  obtain  the  opinion  of 
the  colonists  respecting  it,  The  legislature  instructed  the 
Agent  in  very  strong  terms,  and  Mr.  Otis  published,  (July, 
23,)  a  tract  entitled  l  The  Rights  of  the  British  colonies  asserted 
and  proved,''  which  was  followed  on  the  same  side  (Sept.  3,) 
by  '  The  Sentiments  of  a  British  American1  written  by  Mr. 
Thacher.  These  two  publications  gave  an  importance  to  the 
questions  between  the  '  mother  country'  and  the  colonies, 
which  led  to  a  closer  examination  of  the  subjects,  on  both 
sides  of  the  water. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

"  First  of  your  kind  !  Society  divine  !" 

Whatever  other  subjects  may  have  engrossed  the  general 
attention,  there  never  has  been  a  period  when  the  people  of 
Boston  lost  their  interest  in  those  of  a  religious  nature.  The 
letters  of  Robert  Sandeman  to  Mr.  Hervey  had  excited  a  de- 
sire in  some  people  to  see  the  former  in  this  quarter  of  the 
world.  Pressing  solicitations  were  sent  to  him  from  different 
parts  of  New  England  by  letter  from  some  of  the  clergy  as 
well  as  of  the  laity,  and  he  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  18th  of 
October,  1764,  in  the  Ship  George  and  James,  Montgomery, 
from  Glasgow.  On  the  next  sabbath  he  performed  religious 
service  at  Masons'  hall.  '  Those  who  first  associated  with 
him  in  Boston  were,  Edward  Foster,  Alford  Butler,  and  Geo. 
Oglevie  with  their  respective  wives  and  families;  and  very 
soon  after,  Edw.  King,  Henry  Capen,  Adam  Chizeau,  Ebene- 
zer  Allen,  Barnabas  Allen,  Hopestill  Capen,  Benjamin  Davies, 
Isaac  Winslow,Colburn  Barrell,Walter  Barrell,  Mr.Peck,  Han- 
nah Robinson,  Susanna  Davies,  Mary  Cotton,  Mary  West,  Ke- 
zia  West,  Mrs.  Stayner  and  some  others  of  both  sexes.  Mr. 
Joseph  Howe  and  Samuel  Harris  and  wife  joined  the  soci- 
ety at  a  later  period. 

'  They  first  met  in  a  large  room  at  Mr.  Foster's  house  in 
that  part  of  Prince  St.  called  Black  Horse  lane,  but  as  much 
attention  was  excited,  they  removed  to  the  Long  Room  at  the 
Green  Dragon.  They  soon  built  a  house  at  the  bottom  of  a 
lane  leading  to  the  mill  pond,  somewhere  between  the  two 
Baptist  meeting  houses.    It  was  erected  for  the  sole  purpose  of 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  257 

a  meeting  house,  by  assistance  from  many  friends.'  This  house 
was  burnt  in  a  fire  which  happened  on  Sunday,  April,  4, 
1773,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  in  a  building  belonging  to  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Edwards,  cabinet-maker,  and  in  a  short  time  extended 
to  several  other  shops  and  sheds  in  the  neighbourhood.  The 
spot  has  since  been  occupied  as  a  bake-house,  and  is  now 
within  the  premises  of  Mr.  Joseph  Veazie.  Engine  house, 
No.  3,  stands  at  the  head  of  the  passage  way. 

The  Sandemanian  society  afterwards  convened  at  Mr. 
Townsend's  in  Cross-st.  They  subsequently  built  a  house  in 
the  rear  of  Middle-street,  where  they  met  till  within  two  years, 
when  the  attendance  became  so  thin  as  to  occasion  the  discon- 
tinuance of  their  meetings.  A  primary  school  is  now  kept  in 
the  same  building. 

As  to  church  officers,  they  always  had  two  elders  (teach- 
ers) and  deacons  :  no  deaconesses  are  recollected.  Daniel 
Humphreys,  esq.  (brother  to  the  late  Col.  Humphreys)  was 
early  a  deacon  here,  but  soon  removed  to  Danbury,  Conn, 
to  officiate  as  an  elder.  Mr.  H.  is  still  living  and  resides  at 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.  being  Dist.  Attorney  of  the  U.  S.  He  is  an 
elder  in  a  small  society  there,  of  which  Mr.  Butler  abovena- 
med  is  also  a  living  member.  Mr.  Sandeman  died  at  Danbu- 
ry, April  2,  1771,  set.  53. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

Canterbury.    " That  self  bill  is  urg'd 

Which,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the  last  king's  reign 
Was  like,  and  had  indeed  against  us  pass'd, 
But  that 

Ely.    But  how,  my  lord,  shall  we  resist  it  now  ? 

Cant.    It  must  be  thought  on." 

It  was  in  vain  that  all  the  colonies,  in  their  separate  ca- 
pacities, remonstrated  against  the  passage  of  the  proposed 
Stamp  Act.  The  king  gave  his  assent  to  it  on  the  22d  of 
March,  1765,  and  an  unofficial  copy  of  it  was  received  in 
Boston  on  the  26th  of  May.*  It  consisted  of  fifty-five  sec- 
tions, each  proposing  a  stamp  duty,  from  half  a  penny  to 
twenty  shillings,  '  on  every  skin  of  vellum  or  parchment  or 
sheet  or  piece  of  paper,'  on  which  any  thing  should  be  en- 
grossed, written,  or  printed,  which  it  was  possible  to  imagine 
could  be  of  any  use  to  any  person,  to  have  written,  printed, 

*  QtiVs  Botta,  Hist.  Rev.  vol.  i.  73,  contains  a  copy. 

33 


258  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

or  engrossed.  The  Mutiny  Act  was  passed  at  the  same  ses- 
sion, which  required  the  colonies  to  provide  for  quartering  the 
king's  troops,  while  on  service  in  the  colonies.  The  Virginia 
legislature  were  in  session  when  the  Stamp  Act  arrived  :  it  is 
well  known  that  they  immediately  adopted  (May  29th)  the 
resolutions  of  Patr.  Henry,  which  fact  has  given  to  that  state 
the  honour  of  having  been  foremost  in  opposition  to  the  pre- 
tensions of  parliament.!  The  Massachusetts  legislature  con- 
vened on  the  30th  of  May,  and  by  resolutions  on  the  8th  of 
June,  proposed  a  congress  of  deputies  from  all  the  colonies,  to 
be  held  in  New  York  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  October  ensu- 
ing. The  Stamp  Act  was  to  commence  operation  on  the  first 
of  November. 

At  this  critical  moment  the  cause  of  liberty  lost  one  of  its 
worthiest  advocates  by  the  death  of  Oxenbridge  Thacher  jr. 
esq.  on  the  9th  of  July.  His  place  in  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives was  supplied  by  the  choice  of  Samuel  Adams. 

The  gazettes  of  July  abounded  with  articles,  from  all  quar- 
ters, exciting  the  people  to  watchfulness,  and  '  it  began  to  be 
said  that  some  provinces  resolve  not  to  pay  the  stamp  duties.' 
But  no  business  can  be  legally  transacted  without  the  stamps  : 
the  courts  cannot  proceed,  without  stamps  upon  their  writs 
and  processes  :  no  vessel  can  enter  and  no  clearance  can  be 
had  without  a  stamp  :  no  collegiate  diploma  can  be  issued 
without  a  stamp  :  no  marriage  can  be  celebrated  without  a 
stamp  upon  the  clerk's  certificate  :  cards  must  be  stamped  ; 
newspapers  must  be  stamped  ;  almanacks  must  be  stamped  ; 
every  thing,  in  fine,  must  bear  this  mark  of  slavery,  or  the 
execution  of  the  act  must  be  prevented.  What  then  shall  be 
done  ? 

While  the  considerate  part  of  the  community  were  ponder- 
ing this  important  question,  information  was  received  in  Bos- 
ton, that  the  secretary  of  the  province,  Andrew  Oliver,  esq. 
was  appointed  distributor  of  stamps  for  Massachusetts,  and 
that  a  cargo  of  the  papers  might  be  daily  expected  to  arrive 
in  the  harbour.  Popular  feeling  could  no  longer  be  suppres- 
sed ;  and  what  calm  reasoning  could  not  decide,  passion,  the 
love  of  liberty  without  restraint,  brought  to  a  determination. 

Near  the  head  of  Essex-street  there  used  to  be  a  grove  of 
'  those  majestick  elms,  of  the  American  species,  that  form  one 
of  the  greatest  ornaments  in  the  landscape  of  this  country,' 
which  obtained  the  name  of  Hanover-square,  or  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Elms.  On  one  of  these,  which  stood  in 
front  of  a  house  opposite  the  Boylston  Market,  on  the  edge  of 


t  Aug.  11,  1766.    At  a  celebration  in  Boston  the  following- toast  was  given:    "  The  noble 
Virginians,  whojirst  asserted  their  rights  with  decent  firmness."    B.  Gaz. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  259 

the  street,  there  was  discovered  hanging,  at  break  of  day,  on 
the  14th  of  August,  an  effigy  representing  Mr.  Oliver,  and  a 
Boot  (the  emblem  of  Lord  Bute,  a  promoter  of  American  tax- 
ation) with  the  devil  peeping  out  of  it,  having  the  stamp  act 
in  his  hand,  besides  various  other  satirical  emblems.*  Some 
of  the  neighbours  offered  to  take  it  down,  but  they  were  given 
to  know,  that  would  not  be  permitted.  The  Lieut.  Gov.  as 
chief  justice,  directed  the  sheriff  to  order  the  effigy  to  be  ta- 
ken down,  but  his  officers  reported  that  they  could  not  do  it 
without  imminent  danger  of  their  lives. 

Business  was  almost  laid  aside  during  the  day,  and  multi- 
tudes from  the  country  as  well  as  the  town  flocked  to  witness  the 
sight.  As  soon  as  it  began  to  grow  dark,  the  mob,  which 
had  been  gathering  all  the  afternoon,  came  down  in  proces- 
sion to  the  Town-house,  bearing  the  effigy  with  them  ;  and 
knowing  that  the  Governour  and  Council  were  in  session,  they 
gave  three  huzzas  by  way  of  defiance,  and  passed  on  towards 
Kilby-street,  where  Mr.  Oliver  had  lately  erected  a  building, 
which  people  supposed  was  designed  for  a  stamp  office.  That 
they  instantly  demolished,  and  bearing  each  man  a  portion  of 
the  ruins  upon  his  shoulder,  they  moved  in  solemn  pomp  to 
Fort-hill,  where  they  made  a  bonfire  in  view  of  Mr.  Oliver's 
house,  and  burnt  the  effigy  upon  it.  Mr.  O.  had  removed  his 
family,  but  remained  himself  with  a  few  friends  till  the  mob 
approached,  when  he  was  persuaded  to  withdraw.  The  mob 
got  possession  of  the  house,  broke  the  windows  and  tore  down 
the  garden  fences. 

'  After  eleven  o'clock,  the  people  seeming  to  grow  quiet,  the 
Lieut.  Gov.  and  the  sheriff  ventured  to  go  to  Mr.  Oliver's 
house,  and  endeavour  to  persuade  them  to  disperse.  As 
soon  as  they  began  to  speak,  a  ringleader  cried  out,  "  The 
Governour  and  the  sheriff,  to  your  arms,  my  boys  :"  and 
presently  a  volley  of  stones  followed,  and  the  two  gentlemen 
narrowly  escaped,  through  favour  of  the  night,  not  without 
some  bruises.     Nothing  more  being  to  be  done,  the  mob  were 


*  TWs  exhibition  was  not  an  original  :  it  was  probably  an  imitation  of  one  in  Devonshire, 
of  which  a  Boston  paper  of  Aug.  20,  1763,  gave  the  following  account  : — '  About  two  miles 
below  Honiton  there  was  suspended  on  an  apple-tree,  that  grew  over  the  road,  a  figure  as 
big  as  life,  dressed  in  Scotch  plaid,  with  something  to  resemble  a  ribbon  over  one  shoulder, 
and  on  a  painted  board,  affixed  to  the  tree,  were  these  lines  : 

'  Behold  the  man  who  made  the  yoke,  Now  Britons  all,  join  heart  and  hand, 

Which  doth  Old  England's  sons  provoke,         His  sly-schemed  project  to  withstand, 
And  now  he  hangs  upon  a  tree,  That  all  our  sons,  as  well  as  we, 

An  emblem  of  our  liberty.  May  have  our  Cider  go  scot  free,' 

'LIBERTY,  PROPERTY,  AND  NO  EXCISE.' 


260  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

left  to  disperse  at  their  own  time,  which  they  did  about 
twelve  o'clock.' 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  '  several  gentlemen  ap- 
plied to  Mr  Oliver,  to  advise  him  to  make  a  publick  declara- 
tion, that  he  would  resign  the  office,  and  never  act  in  it  ; 
without  which  they  said  his  house  would  be  immediately  de- 
stroyed, and  his  life  in  continual  danger  ;  upon  which  he  was 
obliged  to  authorize  some  gentlemen  to  declare  in  publick,  that 
he  would  immediately  apply  for  leave  to  resign,  and  would  not 
act  in  the  office  (as  indeed  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  do)  un- 
til be  received  further  orders.' 

An  officer  addressing  the  lords  of  trade,  writes  thus  : — 
'After  the  demolition  of  Mr.  Oliver's  house  was  found  so 
practicable  and  easy,  that  the  government  was  obliged  to  look 
on,  without  being  able  to  take  any  one  step  to  prevent  it,  and 
the  principal  people  of  the  town  publickly  avowed  and  justi- 
fied the  act,  the  mob,  both  great  and  small,  became  highly 
elated,  and  all  kinds  of  ill-humours  were  set  on  foot.' 

'  On  Monday,  August  26,  there  was  some  small  rumour, 
that  mischief  would  be  done  that  night ;  but  it  was  in  general 
disregarded.  Towards  evening  some  boys  began  to  light  a 
bonfire  before  the  Town- house,  which  is  an  usual  signal  for  a 
mob.  Before  it  was  quite  dark,  a  great  company  of  people 
gathered  together,  crying,  Liberty  and  Property  ;  which  is 
their  usual  notice  of  their  intention  to  plunder  and  pull  down 
an  house.  They  went  first  to  Mr.  Paxton's  house*,  who  is 
marshall  of  the  court  of  Admiralty,  and  surveyor  of  the  port; 
and  finding  before  it  the  owner  of  the.  house  (Mr.  Paxton  be- 
ing only  a  tenant)  he  assured  them,  that  Mr.  Paxton  had  quit- 
ted the  house  with  his  best  effects,  and  that  the  house  was  his  ; 
that  he  had  never  injured  them,  and  finally,  invited  them  to 
go  to  the  tavern  and  drink  a  barrel  of  punch  :  the  offer  was 
accepted,  and  so  that  house  was  saved.  As  soon  as  they  had 
drank  the  punch,  they  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Story,  reg- 
ister-deputy of  the  Admiralty,  [opposite  the  North  corner  of 
the  Court-house]  broke  into  it,  and  broke  it  all  to  pieces,  and 
took  out  all  the  books  and  papers,  among  which  were  all  the 
records  of  the  court  of  Admiralty,  and  carried  them  to  the 
bonfire,  and  there  burnt  them  ;  they  also  looked  about  for 
him  with  an  intention  to  kill  him.  From  thence  they  went  to 
Mr.  HallowelPs,  comptroller  of  the  customs,  broke  into  his 
house,  [recently  the  mansion  house  of  Hon.  John  Coffin  Jones, 
in  Hanover-street,  where  the  new  Trinitarian  Church  is  now 
building]  and  destroyed  and  carried  off  every  thing  of  value, 
with  about  30l.  sterling,  in  cash.  This  house  was  lately  built 
by  himself,  and  fitted  and  furnished  with  great  elegance. 

'  But  the  grand  mischief  of  all  was  to  come.  The  Lieuten- 
ant-governour  had  been  apprized,  that  there  was  an  evil  spirit 


HISTOUY    OF    BOSTON.  261 

gone  forth  against  him  ;    but,  being  conscious  that  he  had  not 
in  the  least  deserved  to  be   made  a    party,  in   regard  to  the 
Stamp-act  or  the  Custom-house,  he  rested  in  full  security  that 
the  mob  would    not  attack  him  ;    and  he  was   at  supper  with 
his  family  when  he  received  advice  that  the  mob  was   coming 
to  him.      He  immediately  sent  away  his  children,  and   deter- 
mined to  stay  in  the  house  himself:    but,    happily,  his   eldest 
daughter  returned,  and  declared  she   would  not  stir  from  the 
house,  unless  he  went  with  her;  by  which  means  she  got  him 
away,  which  was  undoubtedly  the  occasion  of  saving  his   life. 
For,  as  soon  as  the   mob  had  got  into  the  house,  [it  was  that 
now  occupied  by  William  Little  esq.   in    Garden-Court  street] 
with  a  most  irresistible  fury,  they  immediately  looked  about 
for   him,   to  murder    him,  and   even    made    diligent    enquiry 
whither  he  was  gone.     They  went  to  work  with  a  rage  scarce 
to  be  exemplified  by  the  most  savage  people.      Every  thing 
moveable  was   destroyed  in  a  most   minute   manner,  except 
such  things  of  value  as  were  worth  carrying  off ;  among  which 
were  near  10001.  sterling,  in   specie,  besides   a  great  quantity 
of  family  plate,  &c.     But  the  loss  to  be  most  lamented  is,  that 
there  was  in  one  room,  kept  for  that  purpose,  a  large  and  val- 
uable collection  of  manuscripts   and  original  papers,  which  he 
had  been  gathering  all  his  life-time,  and  to  which   all  persons, 
who  had  been   in  possession   of  valuable  papers  of  a  publick 
kind,  had  been  contributing,  as  to  a  publick  Museum.    As  these 
related  to  the  history  and  policy  of  the  country,  from  the  time 
of  its  settlement  to  the  present,  and  was  the  only  collection  of 
its  kind,  the  loss  of  the  publick  is  great  and  irretrievable,  as  it 
is  to   himself,  the   loss  of  the   papers  of  a  family,  which  had 
made  a  figure  in  this  province  for  a  hundred  and  thirty  years. 
As  for  the  house,     which  from  the  structure  and  inside  finish- 
ing, seemed  to  be  from  a  design   of    Inigo   Jones  or   his   suc- 
cessor, it  appears  that  they  were  a  long  while  resolved  to  level 
it  to  the   ground  :  they  worked  three  hours  at  the  cupola  be- 
fore they  could  get  it  down,  and   they  uncovered  part  of  the 
roof;  but  I  suppose,  that  the  thickness  of  the  walls,  which 
were  of  very  fine  brick-work,  adorned  with   Ionic  pilasters 
worked  into  the   wall,  prevented   their  completing  their  pur- 
pose, though  they  worked  at  it  till  daylight.      The  next  day. 
the  streets  were  found  scattered  with  money,  plate,  gold  rings, 
&lc.  which  had  been  dropped  in  carrying  off.     The  whole  loss 
in  this  house  is  reckoned  at  £3168.  17s.  9d.  lawful.' 

The  principal  citizens,  perceiving  that  such  outrages  must 
infallibly  injure  a  cause  they  considered  just,  were  very 
strenuous  to  distinguish  this  tumultuous  conduct  from  the 
truly  noble  opposition  which  they  wished  to  manifest  to  the 
imposition  of  internal  taxes  by  authority  of  parliament. 


262  HISTORY    OF    EOSTOI*. 

A  town  meeting  was  held,  as  early  as  possible  on  the  next 
day,  and  the  town  expressed  their  '  detestation'  of  the  vio- 
lent proceedings  of  the  past  night,  and  unanimously  voted, 
that  the  selectmen  and  magistrates  be  desired  to  use  their  ut- 
most endeavours  to  suppress  such  disorders  for  the  future. 

In  the  month  of  September*  a  quantity  of  the  stamps  arri- 
ved, and  Gov.  Bernard,  finding  that  Mr.  Oliver  could  '  not 
safely  meddle  with  them,'  asked  the  advice  of  the  Gen.  Court, 
in  order  that  they  might  be  preserved  safe  and  secure,  but 
the  Court  excused  themselves  from  giving  any  advice  or  as- 
sistance on  the  subject,  and  the  stamps  were  deposited  in  the 
Castle  for  safe  keeping. 

The  first  of  November  had  been  appointed  as  a  sort  of  Ju- 
bilee, before  the  riot  of  the  26th  of  August  happened,  and  it 
had  for  many  years  been  customary  to  celebrate  the  fifth  of 
November.  The  following  account  of  the  events  of  those  two 
days,  in  1765,  are  from  the  Mass.  Gazette,  and  convey  a 
strong  idea  of  the  publick  excitement. 

'  Last  Friday  being  the  day  the  stamp-act  was  to  take  place, 
the  publick  were  not  much  alarmed  or  displeased  at  the  morn- 
ing's being  ushered  in  by  the  tolling  of  bells  in  several  parts 
of  the  town,  and  the  vessels  in  the  harbour  displajring  their 
colours  half  mast  high,  in  token  of  mourning  :  and  though 
some  previous  steps  had  been  taken  by  authority  to  prevent 
any  pageantry,  fearing  lest  tumult  and  disorder  might  be  the 
consequence,  yet  the  people  were  soon  informed  that  the 
Great  Tree  at  the  South  part  of  the  town  (known  by  the  name 
of  the  Tree  of  Liberty  ever  since  the  memorable  14th  of  Aug- 
ust) was  adorned  with  the  effigies  of  the  two  famous  or  rather 
infamous  enemies  of  American  Liberty;  G — ge  G — nv — e  and 
J-hn  H — sk — .  The  figures  continued  suspended  without  any 
molestation  till  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  they 
were  cut  dow>n  in  the  view  and  amid  the  acclamations  of  sev- 
eral thousand  people  of  all  ranks,  and  being  placed  in  a  cart, 
were  with  great  solemnity  and  order  followed  by  the  multi- 
tude, formed  into  regular  ranks,  to  the  Court-house,  where  the 
Assembly  was  then  sitting  ;  from  thence  proceeding  to  the 
North  end  of  the  town  and  then  returning  up  Middle  Street, 
they  passed  back  through  the  town  to  the  gallows  on  the  Neck, 
where  the  effigies  were  again  hung  up,  and  after  continuing 
some  time  were  cut  down,  when  the  populace,  in  token  of  their 


*  Sept.  11.  There  was  a  general  rejoicing  on  the  change  of  ministry,  of  which  news  was 
received,  and  '  On  the  body  of  the  largest  tree  was  fixed  with  large  deck  nails,  that  it 
might  last  (as  a  poet  said,  like  oaken  bench  to  perpetuity,)  a  copper  plate  [2  l-2ft.  by  3  1-2] 
with  these  words  stamped  thereon  in  golden  letters;  The  tree  of  liberty,  Aug.  14.  1765.' 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  283 

utmost  detestation  of  the  men  they  were  designed  to  repre- 
sent, tore  them  in  pieces  and  flung  their  limbs  with  indigna- 
tion into  the  air.  This  being  done,  three  cheers  were  given, 
and  every  man  was  desired  to  repair  to  his  home,  which  was 
so  punctually  performed,  that  the  evening  was  more  remark- 
able for  peace  and  quietness  than  common  ;  a  circumstance 
that  would  at  any  time  redound  to  the  honour  of  the  town, 
but  was  still  more  agreeable,  as  the  fears  of  many  were  great 
lest  it  should  prove  another  26th  of  August  ;  for  the  horrid 
violences  of  which  night  we  hope  the  good  order  of  this  will 
in  some  measure  atone,  as  it  is  a  proof  such  conduct  was  not 
agreeable  to  the  sentiments  of  the  town,  but  was  only  the 
lawless  ravages  of  some  foreign  villains,  who  took  advantage 
of  the  over-heated  temper,  of  a  very  few  people  of  this  place, 
and  drew  them  in  to  commit  such  violences  and  disorders  as 
they  shuddered  at  with  horror  in  their  cooler  hours.' 

'  Tuesday  last  being  the  anniversary  of  the  commemora- 
tion of  the  happy  deliverance  of  the  English  nation  from  the 
Popish  Plot,  commonly  called  The  Powder  Plot,  the  guns 
at  Castle  William  and  at  the  batteries  in  town  were  fired  at 
1  o'clock  ;  as  also  on  board  the  men  of  war  in  the  harbour. 

'  It  has  long  been  the  custom  in  this  town  on  the  Fifth  of 
November  for  numbers  of  persons  to  exhibit  on  stages  some 
pageantry,  denoting  their  abhorrence  of  Popery  and  the 
horrid  Plot  which  was  to  have  been  executed  on  that  day 
in  the  year  1685  ;  these  shews  of  late  years  had  been  contin- 
ued in  the  evening,  and  we  have  often  seen  the  bad  effects  at- 
tending them  at  such  a  time  ;  the  servants  and  negroes  would 
disguise  themselves,  and  being  armed  with  clubs  would  en- 
gage each  other  with  great  violence,  whereby  many  came  off' 
badly  wounded  ;  in  short  they  carried  it  to  such  lengths  that 
two  parties  were  created  in  the  town,  under  the  appellation  of 
North-End  and  South-End  :  but  the  disorders  that  had. been 
committed  from  time  to  time  induced  several  gentlemen  to  try 
a  reconciliation  between  the  two  parties  ;  accordingly  the 
chiefs  met  on  the  first  of  this  instant,  and  conducted  that  af- 
fair in  a  very  orderly  manner  ;  in  the  evening  the  command- 
er of  the  South  entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  commander  of 
the  North,  and  after  making  several  overtures  they  recipro- 
cally engaged  on  a  UNION,  and  the  former  distinctions  to 
subside  ;  at  the  same  time  the  chiefs  with  their  assistants  en- 
gaged upon  their  honour,  no  mischiefs  should  arise  by  their 
means,  and  that  they  would  prevent  any  disorders  on  the  5th 
— when  the  day  arrived  the  morning  was  all  quietness — about 
noon  the  pageantry, representing  the  Pope,  Devil,  and  several 
other  effigies  signifying  Tyranny,  Oppression,  Slavery,  &c. 
were  brought  on  stages  from  the  North  and  South,  and  met  in 
King-street,  where  the  Union  was  established  in  a  very  cere- 


264  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

monial  manner,  and  having  given  three  huzzas,  they  inter- 
changed ground,  the  South  marched  to  the  North,  and  the 
North  to  the  South,  parading  through  the  streets  until  they  met 
again  near  the  Court-house  :  the  whole  then  proceeded  to  the 
Tree  of  Liberty,  under  the  shadow  of  which  they  refreshed 
themselves  for  a  while,  and  then  retreated  to  the  northward, 
agreeable  to  their  plan  ; — they  reached  Copps'  Hill  before  6 
o'clock,  where  they  halted,  and  having  enkindled  a  fire,  the 
whole  pageantry  was  committed  to  the  flames  and  consumed  : 
this  being  finished,  every  person  was  requested  to  retire  to 
their  respective  homes — ft  must  be  noticed  to  the  honour  of 
all  those  concerned  in  this  business  that  every  thing  was  con- 
ducted in  a  most  regular  manner,  and  such  order  observed  as 
could  hardly  be  expected  among  a  concourse  of  several  thou- 
sand people — all  seemed  to  be  joined  agreeable  to  their  prin- 
cipal motto  Lovely  Unify — the  leaders,  Mr.  Mcintosh  from  the 
South,  and  Mr.  Swift  from  the  North,  appeared  in  military 
habits,  with  small  canes  resting  on  their  left  arms,  having  mu- 
sick  in  front  and  flank  ;  their  assistants  appeared  also  distin- 
guished with  small  reeds,  then  the  respective  corps  followed, 
among  whom  were  a  great  number  of  persons  in  rank  :  these 
with  the  spectators  filled  the  streets  ;  not  a  club  was  seen 
among  the  whole,  nor  was  any  negro  allowed  to  approach  near 
the  stages  ; —  after  the  conflagration  the  populace  retired,  and 
the  town  remained  the  whole  night  in  better  order  than  it  had 
ever  been  on  this  occasion. — Many  gentlemen  seeing  the  af- 
fair so  well  conducted,  contributed  to  make  up  a  handsome 
purse  to  entertain  those  that  carried  it  on. — This  union,  and 
one  other*  more  extensive,  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  (perhaps 
the  only)  happy  effects  arising  from  the  S — p  A — t.' 

To  relieve  the  merchants  in  some  measure  from  the  diffi- 
culties to  which  they  were  exposed,  the  custom-house  officers 
gave  to  vessels  destined  for  foreign  ports  a  certificate,  that  no 
stamps  could  be  procured  in  Boston.  Trusting  to  this  secu- 
rity, and  perhaps  willing  to  contest  the  right  of  parliament 
to  impose  the  stamp  duty  before  a  court  in  England,  John 
Hancock,  esq.t  despatched  the  first  ship,  the  Boston  Packet, 
Capt.  Marshall,  which  arrived  safe  at  London  and  was  ad- 
mitted without  any  trouble.  Some  other  vessels  sailed  in  the 
same  month  of  November. 

In  the  early  part  of  December  the  Sons  of  Liberty  (so 
those  who  espoused  the  popular  side  were  called,  adopting 
the  appellation  given  them  by  Col.  Barre  on  the  floor  of  par- 


*  Referring-  probably  to  an  agreement  not  to  import  goods  from  England. 

t  Mr.  Hancock  was  one  of  the  selectmen  :  tbe  year  preceding  be  had  come  into  posses- 
sion of  a  large  estate,  left  to  him  by  his  uncle  Thomas  H.  a  great  benefactor  of  the  town 
and  also  of  Harvard  College. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON-.  265 

ilament)  received  information,  that  there  was  some  probability 
that  Mr.  Oliver  would  accept  the  commission  to  distribute 
stamps,  notwithstanding  his  former  resignation.  He  was 
challenged  by  an  anonymous  writer  to  give  a  decided  an- 
swer to  the  question,  whether  it  were  so  or  not.  By  the  fa° 
vour  of  the  printer,  he  was  permitted  to  reply  in  the  same  ga- 
zette. This  was  not  satisfactory,  and  he  received  a  note  on 
the  16th,  desiring  him  to  appear  '  to-morrow,  under  Liberty- 
Tree,  at  12  o'clock,  to  make  a  publick  resignation.'  Accord' 
ingly  the  selectmen,  with  the  merchants  and  the  principal  in- 
habitants of  the  town,  to  the  amount  of  upwards  of  2000,  as« 
sembled  at  the  Tree,  at  the  time  appointed.  Mr.  O.  sent  a 
note  with  '  compliments  to  the  gentlemen  assembled,'  contain- 
ing a  proposition  to  have  the  ceremony  performed  at  the  Town- 
house ;  but  this  not  being  agreeable,  he  came  up  to  the  Tree 
and  declared  as  follows  : 

Wh.tre.as  a  Declaration  was  yesterday  inserted  in  my  name  and  at  my  desire,  in  some  of  the 
Boston  newspapers,  that  I  would  not  act  as  distributor  of  the  Stamps,  within  this  Province, 
which  declaration,  I  am  informed,  is  not  satisfactory  : 

I  do  hereby  in  the  most  explicit  and  unreserved  manner  declare,  that  I  have  never  taken 
any  measures,  in  consequence  of  my  deputation  for  that  purpose,  to  act  in  the  office  ;  and. 
that  I  never  will,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  myself  or  any  under  me,  make  use  of  the  said 
deputation,  or  take  any  measures  for  enforcing'  the  Stamp-Act  in  America,  which  is  so  grie- 
vous to  the  people.  Andrew  Oliver. 

Boston,  17  Dec.  1765. 

Suffolk,  ss.  Boston,  Dec.  V7th,  1765. 

The  Honourable  Andrew  Oliver,  Esq.  subscriber  to  the  above  writing,  made  oath  to  the 
same.  (Signed)  Ri.  Dana,  Just.  Pads. 

After  which  three"  cheers  were  given,  and  then  Mr.  Secretary  made  a  short  speech  to  the 
following  purport,  viz.  "  That  he  had  an  utter  detestation  of  the  Stamp-Act,  and  would  do 
all  that  lay  in  his  power  to  serve  this  town  or  province;  and  desired  that  they  would  no 
longer  look  on  him  as  an  enemy,  but  as  another  man."  After  which  three  cheers  were 
again  given  him— and  Hanover  Square  was  clear  in  10  minutes. 

Tt  is  by  no  means  to  be  inferred,  from  the  pertinacity  with 
which  the  people  of  Boston  pursued  Mr.  Oliver,  to  compel 
him  to  a  resignation  in  their  own  way,  that  he  was  a  man  of 
vile  or  mean  character.  On  the  contrary,  Dr.  Eliot's  Biogra- 
phy tells  us,  '  he  was  highly  respectable  for  his  piety,  integ- 
rity, and  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  the  province.'  But  it 
was  his  misfortune  to  differ  from  the  majority  ;  and  we  may 
gather,  from  the  zeal  with  which  the  majority  could  crowd 
upon  such  a  man,  some  notion  of  the  height  to  which  popular 
excitement  had  reached. 

The  courts  of  law  continuing  closed,  a  memorial  was  pre- 
sented, Dec.  18th,  to  the  Governour  in  Council,  from  the 
town  of  Boston,  urging  him  to  exert  his  influence,  'that  under 
no  pretence  whatever,  we  may  be  any  longer  deprived  of  this 
invaluable  blessing,''  The  committee  to  present  th§  memorial 
34 


266  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

were  S.  Adams,  John  Rowe,  Th.  dishing,  J.  Ruddock,  Saml. 
Sewall,  John  Hancock,  J.  Henshaw,  B.  Kent,  and  Arnold 
Welles.  At  the  same  time,  Jer.  Gridley,  James  Otis,  and 
John  Adams,  were  '  applied  to  as  counsel  to  appear  in  behalf 
of  the  town  in  support  of  said  memorial.'  The  result  of  the 
memorial  was  not  immediately  satisfactory  ;  but  the  courts 
were  opened  shortly  after. 

Liberty  Tree  became  a  sort  of  idol.  On  the  14th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1766,  '  it  was  pruned  after  the  best  manner,  agreeable 
to  a  vote  passed  by  the  true-born  Sons  of  Liberty,'  by  a  num- 
ber of  carpenters  appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  a  gentleman 
well  skilled  in  these  affairs  as  a  director.  So  that  the  Tree 
was  now  become  a  great  ornament  to  the  street.  Thursday 
the  20th  was  fixed  for  burning  one  of  the  stamped  papers  in 
the  principal  towns  in  every  colony.  In  Boston,  the  ceremo- 
ny '  was  conducted  with  great  decency  and  good  order,'  and 
the  effigies  of  Bute  and  Grenville,  in  full  court  dress,  were  ad- 
ded to  the  bonfire.  On  the  24th  a  vessel  arrived  from  Ja- 
maica with  stamped  clearances.  The  Sons  of  Liberty  imme- 
diately sent  an  order  to  one  of  their  members  '  to  go  and 
demand  in  their  names,  those  marks  of  Creole  slavery.' 
'  Whereupon  the  person  to  whom  the  above  was  directed, 
with  a  number  of  others,  immediately  on  the  receipt  thereof, 
repaired  to  the  vessel,  and  being  told  the  captain  was  gone 
to  enter  at  the  Custom-house,  they  proceeded  thither  ;  when 
the  above  warrant  being  shown,  the  said  stamped  clearance 
was  delivered  to  them  ;  they  then  fixed  it  on  a  pole,  and  car- 
ried it  to  the  lower  end  of  the  Court-house,  where  they  put 
the  pole  in  the  stocks  and  exposed  the  paper  to  publick  view 
until  the  time  appointed  for  execution.  At  one  o'clock  the 
warrant  was  read  with  an  audible  voice,  the  execution- 
er then  carried  the  guilty  criminal  to  the  centre  of  King- 
street,  and  with  a  lighted  match  set  fire  to  one  of  the  S — p- 
A — ts,  and  with  that  burnt  the  offspring  of  that  hydra-headed 
monster  ;  while  the  smoke  was  ascending,  the  executioner  pro- 
nounced the  following  words,  viz. — "  Behold  the  smoke  as- 
cends to  Heaven,  to  witness  between  the  isle  of  Britain  and 
an  injured  people  !"  Three  cheers  were  then  given,  and  the 
'Change  was  clear  in  a  few  minutes,  without  the  least  disorder.' 

The  tone  of  the  writers  in  the  publick  journals  became 
more  decided.  In  the  B.  Gazette,  March  17th,  we  find  one 
exclaiming,  '  Since  the  stamp  act  imposed  upon  us  is  uncon- 
stitutional, shall  we  not  then  all  as  one  man  join  in  opposing 
it,  and  spill  the  last  drop  of  our  blood,  if  necessity  should 
require,  rather  than  live  to  see  it  take  place  in  America  !' — \ 
This  is. the  first  intimation  we  have  discovered,  of  any  thing 
like  the  possibility  of  an  appeal  to  arras  :  and  the  author,  that 
his  views  may  not  be  misunderstood,  proceeds.  '  any  one,  af- 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  267 

ter  a  thorough  search  and  consideration,  would,  rather  than 
lose  his  liberty,  be  bored  through  the  centre  of  life  with  the 
fatal  lead.' 

Happily  the  change  of  ministry  was  then  about  producing 
a  change  of  measures,  which  served  to  avert  that  crisis  till  a 
more  favourable  season.  Information  was  received  in  Boston 
on  the  16th  of  May,  that  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed.  It 
is  impossible  to  express  the  joy  the  inhabitants  in  general 
were  in,  on  receiving  this  great  and  glorious  news.  The  bells 
were  immediately  set  a  ringing,  and  the  cannon  fired  under 
Liberty  Tree  and  many  other  parts  of  the  town.  It  is  men- 
tioned, as  '  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  vessel  which  brought 
this  glorious  news  is  owned  by  that  worthy  patriot,  John 
Hancock  esq.'*  Monday  the  19th  was  appointed  for  a  day 
of  general  rejoicing  on  the  happy  occasion.  The  ardour  of 
the  people  was  so  great,  that,  immediately  after  the  clock 
struck  one  in  the  morning,  the  bell  of  Dr.  Byles's  church  (as 
being  the  nearest  to  Liberty  Tree)  was  set  a  ringing,  which 
was  soon  answered  by  the  bells  on  Christ  Church,  at  the 
other  end  of  the  town.  Before  two,  musick  was  heard  in  all 
the  streets,  the  drums  beat  and  guns  fired.  As  soon  as  it 
grew  light  enough  to  see,  Dr.  Byles's  steeple  was  hung  with 
banners,  Liberty  Tree  decorated  with  flags,  and  colours  and 
pendants  displayed  on  the  tops  of  houses  all  round  the  town. 
In  the  evening  the  town  was  universally  illuminated  and 
shone  like  day  :  fire  works  were  every  where  pla3^ed  oft', 
especially  on  the  Common  :  the  air  was  filled  with  rockets, 
the  ground  with  bee-hives  and  serpents.  Mr.  Hancock  gave  a 
grand  and  elegant  entertainment  to  the  genteel  part  of  the 
town,  and  treated  the  populace  with  a  pipe  of  Madeira  wine. 
Mr.  Otis  and  some  other  gentlemen,  who  lived  near  the  com- 
mon, kept  open  house.  On  the  common  the  sons  of  liberty 
had  a  magnificent  pyramid  erected,  illuminated  with  280 
lamps.  About  twelve  o'clock,  upon  a  signal  given  and  the  beat 
of  a  drum,  the  populace  retired  to  their  respective  dwellings, 
the  lights  were  put  out,  and  the  town  was  hushed  in  an  unusual 
silence.  The  evening  following,  all  the  gentlemen  in  the  town 
contributed  lanterns  to  illuminate  Liberty  Tree,  till  the 
boughs  could  hold  no  more,  which  made  a  most  beautiful  and 
splendid  appearance.  These  well  conducted  rejoicings  were 
ushered  in,  with  a  subscription  for  liberating  all  the  poor  per- 
sons in  gaol  for  debt,  by  which  the  money  was  raised,  and 
the  debtors  were  released,  to  partake  of  the  joy  that  smiled  in 
every  countenance. 

*  Otis,  Cushing,  Adams,  and  Hancock  constituted  the  Boston  delegation  in  1766.  Mr.  H. 
was  chosen  instead  of  Thomas  Gray,  who  supplied  the  place  of  Tyler,  chosen  into  the  coun- 
cil in  1764,  served  also  in  '65,  and  this  year  resigned. 


268  HISTORY    or   BOSTON. 

The  ministers  of  religion  bore  their  part  in  these  joyful 
scenes;  the  sermons  of  Mr.  Stillman  of  the  Baptist  church, 
Dr.  Mayhew  of  the  West,  and  Dr.  Chauncy  of  the  First 
Church  were  printed.  That  of  the  first  was  preached  on  the 
sabbath  after  the  arrival  of  the  news,  Dr.  Mayhew's  on  the 
Friday  succeeding,  and  Dr.  Chauncy's  on  a  day  of  thanksgiv- 
ing, set  apart  for  the  purpose. 


CHAPTER  XLVH. 

We  do  say  then  to  Caesar, 
"Our  ancestor  was  that  Mulmutius,  which 
Ordain 'd  our  laws,  whose  use  the  sword  of  Cassar 
Hath  too  much  mangled  ;  whose  repair  and  franchise 
Shall,  by  the  power  we  hold,  be  our  good  deed. 

Cymbeline. 

Notwithstanding  these  expressions  of  universal  exultation, 
the  publick  mind  was  not  entirely  appeased.  Gov.  Bernard 
tvas  suspected  of  having  promoted  the  stamp  act  and  other  of- 
fensive measures,  though  he  formally  disavowed  having  had 
any  agency  in  the  business.  The  House  of  representatives, 
at  the  General  Election,  May  28,  1766,  made  choice  of  Mr. 
Otis  of  Boston  for  their  speaker.  His  Excellency  saw  prop- 
er to  disapprove  the  choice,  and  Mr.  Cushing  of  Boston  was 
elected  in  his  stead.  Samuel  Adams  was  at  the  same  time 
chosen  clerk.  This  act  of  the  Governour  may  have  been 
the  result  of  sound  discretion  ;  but  it  served  to  exasperate 
the  feelings  of  the  House,  and  they  retaliated  by  leaving  out 
of  the  list  of  counsellors,  the  Lieut.  Governour,  the  Secretary1 
A.  Oliver,  Judge  Peter  Oliver,  and  the  Attorney-General 
Trowbridge,  who  all  had  seats  at  the  board  in  the  preceding 
year.  Thus  the  spirit  of  division  was  reciprocally  fomented. 
On  the  2d  of  June,  a  series  of  pieces,  signed  Paskalos,  was 
commenced  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  against  the  Governour,  in 
which  his  conduct  is  represented  as  mean,  cowardly,  and  ut- 
terly unworthy  of  his  station,  and  strong  intimations  are  given 
that  the  people  would  be  glad  to  see  some  other  person  in 
the  chair. 

The  events  of  the  past  year  were  kept  in  remembrance  by 
a  demand  from  the  ministry,  that  compensation  should  be 
made  to  those  who  had  suffered  by  the  riotous  proceedings  of 
the  14th  and  26th  of  August.  The  demand  was  brought  for- 
ward in  an  offensive  form,  but  was  eventually  complied  with. 
Another  thing:,  which  also  kept  alive  the  fears  of  the  patriots 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  269 

was  the  resolve  of  parliament,  that  accompanied  the  repeal  of 
the  stamp  act,  viz.  '  that  Parliament  had,  hath,  and  of  right 
ought  to  have  full  power  and  authority  to  make  laws  of  suffi- 
cient force  and  validity  to  bind  the  colonies  and  people  of 
America,  subject  to  the  crown  of  G.  B.  in  all  cases  whatever.' 
Against  this  claim,  the  writers  of  the  day  did  not  hesitate  to 
declare  that '  opposition  ought  to  be  made.' 

On  the  25th  of  November,  '  a  large  transport  ship,  having 
on  board  a  detachment  of  H.  M.  Royal  train  of  artillery 
bound  to  Quebec,  after  making  many  attempts  to  get  up  the 
river  in  vain,  was  obliged  to  put  in  here.'  The  Gov.  made 
provision  for  them,  in  pursuance  of  the  late  act  of  parliament, 
the  mutiny  act.  On  the  30th  of  Jan.  1767,  the  H.  of  R.  beg- 
ged to  be  informed,  whether  this  had  been  done  at  the  ex- 
pense of  this  government ;  and  on  learning  that  it  was  so,  re- 
monstrated in  the  strongest  terms  against  the  proceeding,  as 
an  open  violation  of  constitutional  and  charter  rights.  On 
the  28th  of  May  following,  twenty-seven  recruits  were  brought 
in,  and  the  lieutenant,  who  had  charge  of  them,  called  for 
quarters.  The  Gov.  referred  the  matter  to  the  Council,  and 
they  advised  him  to  submit  it  to  the  consideration  of  the 
House,  and  the  house  '  resolved,  that  such  provision  be  made 
for  these  men  as  has  been  heretofore  usually  made  for  H.  M. 
regular  troops,  when  occasionally  in  this  province.' 

About  the  last  of  July  an  unexpected  change  took  place  in 
the  ministry,  and,  a  short  time  after,  the  chancellor  of  the 
exchequer  (Charles  Townsend)  moved  in  the  H.  of  Commons 
to  impose  duties  on  tea,  glass,  and  colours,  imported  from  En- 
gland into  America  :  he  proposed  also  to  suppress  the  duties 
on  teas,  that  should  be  shipped  from  E.  for  A.  and  impose  a 
duty  of  three  pence  per  pound  upon  their  introduction  into  the 
American  ports.  These  two  bills  were  passed  without  much  op- 
position, and  approved  by  the  king.  In  the  preamble,  it  was 
declared  that  the  produce  of  the  duties  should  be  applied  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  the  government  in  America.  It  was  also 
enacted  that  the  ministry  might,  from  this  fund,  grant  stipends 
and  salaries  to  the  governours  and  to  the  judges  in  the  coloj 
nies,  and  determine  the  amount  of  the  same.  The  act  was  to 
take  effect  on  the  20th  of  November,  but,  as  if  it  was  appre- 
hended that  the  new  tax  would  be  too  well  received  by  the 
colonists,  and  purposely  to  irritate  their  minds,  by  placing  be- 
fore their  eyes  the  picture  of  the  tax-gatherers  to  be  employ- 
ed in  the  collection  of  these  duties,  another  act  was  passed 
creating  a  permanent  administration  of  the  customs  in  Amer- 
ica. And  to  crown  the  whole,  the  town  of  Boston  was  selec- 
ted for  the  seat  of  this  new  establishment. 

On  the  28th  of  October  a  town  meeting  was  held,  at  which 
Mr.  Otis  was  chosen  moderator  :  and  a  written  address  to  the 


270  HISTOKY    OF   BOSTON. 

inhabitants,  subscribed  Philo  Patrice,  recommending  economy 
and  manufactures,  being  read,  the  town  took  into  considera- 
tion the  petition  of  a  number  of  inhabitants, '  that  some  effec- 
tual measures  might  be  agreed  upon  to  promote  industry, 
economy,  and  manufactures  :  thereby  to  prevent  the  unneces- 
sary importation  of  European  commodities,  which  threaten 
the  country  with  poverty  and  ruin.'  Messrs.  John  Rowe,  Wm. 
Greenleaf,  Melatiah  Bourne,  SamH  Austin,  Edw.  Payne,  Edm. 
Quincy,  tertius,  John  Ruddock,  Jona.  Williams,  Josh.  Henshaw, 
Hend.  Inches,  Solo.  Davis,  Joshua  Winslow,  and  Thos.  Cushing, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  a  subscription  paper, 
for  the  above  object.  Accordingly,  they  brought  forward  a 
form,  in  which  the  signers  agree  '  to  encourage  the  use  and 
consumption  of  all  articles  manufactured  in  any  of  the  British 
Amer.  colonies  and  more  especially  in  this  province,  and  not 
to  purchase,  after  the  31st  of  Dec.  next,  any  of  certain  enu- 
merated articles,  imported  from  abroad  ;  and  also  strictly  to 
adhere  to  the  late  regulation  respecting  funerals,  and  not  to 
use  any  gloves,  but  what  are  manufactured  here,  nor  procure 
any  new  garments  upon  such  an  occasion,  but  what  shall  be 
absolutely  necessary.'  Copies  of  these  articles  were  direct- 
ed to  every  town  in  this  province,  and  to  all  the  other  princi- 
pal towns  in  America,  where  they  were  generally  approved 
and  adopted. 

In  November,  Wm.  Burch  and  Henry  Hulton,  esqrs.  two  of 
the  five  commissioners  of  the  customs,  arrived  in  Boston.* 
On  the  11th  of  Feb.  1768,  the  House  of  Representatives  ad- 
dressed a  circular  to  the  speakers  of  other  houses  on  the  con- 
tinent, in  which,  among  other  complaints  of  the  acts  for  rais- 
ing a  revenue,  they  enumerate  the  commission  of  these  men, 
as  a  grievance  which  may  become  dangerous  to  the  liberty 
of  the  people.  '  On  the  18th  of  March,  being  the  anniversa- 
ry of  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  and  observed  as  a  day  of 
rejoicing,  a  few  disorderly  persons,  mostly  boys,  assembled 
in  the  evening,  paraded  some  of  the  streets,  and  finally  repair- 
ed to  the  house  of  John  Williams,  esq.  the  inspector-general. 
Whether  their  design  was  to  do  him  an  injury  or  not,  by  his 
address  and  soft  treatment  of  them,  together  with  the  inter- 
position of  some  of  the  neighbouring  householders,  they  soon 
retired  and  dispersed  without  doing  any  mischief  at  all.' 

An  occurrence  of  more  importance  took  place  on  Friday, 
the  10th  of  June.  Towards  evening  the  officers  of  the  cus- 
toms made  a  seizure  of  a  sloop,  belonging  to  and  lying  at  the 
wharf  of  John  Hancock.     The  vessel  was  improved  for  the 


•  A  writer  in  Sup.  to  B.  Gaz.  Dec.  28,  1767,  exults  that  '  the  trump  of  freedom  and  inde- 
pendence sounds  again  throughout  this  continent.' 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  271 

purpose  of  storing  some  barrels  of  oil,  for  which  there  was 
not  room  in  the  owner's  stores.*  One  of  the  officers  immedi- 
ately made  a  signal  to  H.  M.  ship  Romney,  Capt.  Corner, 
then  lying  in  the  stream,  upon  which  her  boats  were  manned 
and  armed  and  made  towards  the  wharf.  Several  gentlemen 
present  advised  the  officers  not  to  move  the  sloop,  as  there 
would  be  no  attempt  allowed  by  the  owner  to  rescue  her  out 
of  their  hands  :  but  notwithstanding  this  declaration,  her  fast 
was  cut  away,  and  she  carried  under  the  guns  of  the  Rom- 
ney. This  provoked  the  people  who  had  collected  on  the 
shore,  and  in  the  dispute,  the  collector  (Harrison),  and  comp- 
troller, and  the  collector's  son,  were  roughly  used  and  pelted 
with  stones.  The  noise  brought  together  a  mixed  multitude, 
who  followed  up  to  the  comptroller's  house  and  broke  some 
of  his  windows,  but  withdrew  by  the  advice  of  some  prudent 
gentlemen  that  interposed. 

By  this  time  they  were  joined  by  a  party  of  sailors  and 
vagrants,  who  were  suspicious  of  an  intention  to  impress  them 
on  board  the  ship.  These  went  in  search  of  one  of  the  man- 
of-war's  boats,  and  in  their  way  met  the  inspector  (Irvine)  : 
him  they  attacked,  broke  his  sword,  and  tore  his  clothes  ;  but 
by  some  assistance  he  escaped  to  a  house  in  King-st.  No 
boat  being  ashore,  between  8  and  9  o'clock  they  went  to  one 
of  the  docks,  and  dragged  out  a  large  pleasure  boat,  belong- 
ing to  the  collector  :  this  they  drew  along  the  street,  with 
loud  huzzaing  all  the  way  into  the  Common,  where  they  set 
fire  to  it  and  burnt  it  to  ashes  :  they  also  broke  several  win- 
dows in  the  houses  of  the  collector  and  inspector-general 
(Williams)  which  were  nigh  the  Common.  No  other  outrage 
was  committed  that  night. 

Several  instances  of  impressment  had  occurred  under  ag- 
gravated circumstances,  and  one  was  even  attempted  and  ex- 
ecuted on  the  Saturday  following  the  above.  These  things, 
added  to  the  prospect  that  the  trade  and  business  of  the  town 
v/as  in  a  manner  ruined,  raised  such  a  spirit  of  resentment  in 
the  people,  that  the  commissioners  and  their  officers,  with  the 
collector  and  comptroller,  thought  it  most  prudent  to  repair  on 
board  the  Romney,  as  did  also  the  officers  ol  that  ship. 

On  Monday  the  people  in  town  were  in  great  agitation,  but 
lest  any  tumult  might  arise  at  night,  a  notification  was  issued 
requesting  the  Sons  of  Liberty  to  meet  at  Liberty-Hall,  on 
Tuesday,  at  10  A.  M.  The  expectation  of  this  meeting  kept 
the  town  in  peace.     Early  on  Tuesday  morn  the  colours  were 


*  On  the  17th  of  Aug.  the  Judge  of  Admiralty  '  decreed  the  sloop  Liberty,  seized  the  10th 
of  June  last,  to  be  forfeited  ;  but  the  200  barrels  of  oil  and  six  barrels  of  tar.  which 
were  on  board  ber  when  seized,  were  cleared.1    B.  Chroa.  Aug-  22.-Sept.  19. 


272  HISTOHY    OF   BOSTON, 

flying  on  Liberty  Tree,  and,  at  the  hour  appointed,  vast 
numbers  of  the  inhabitants  appeared  ;  but  the  weather  bejng 
wet  and  uncomfortable  in  the  street,  they  adjourned  to  Fan- 
euil-hall,  where  it  was  proposed  to  have  a  legal  meeting 
called,  which  was  immediately  ordered  by  the  selectmen  to 
take  place  at  3  o'clock.  At  three,  the  inhabitants  met,  but 
so  great  was  the  concourse,  that  they  were  obliged  to  adjourn 
to  the  Old  South  meeting-house.  After  very  cool  and  delib- 
erate debates  upon  the  distressed  circumstances  of  the  town, 
a  petition  to  the  Governour  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  a 
committee  of  21  gentlemen  appointed  to  present  it.  In  this 
petition  the  town  took  a  bolder  stand  than  any  publick  assem- 
bly here  had  before  taken.  Having  commenced  with  a  strong 
declaration  of  rights  and  injuries,  they  say, 

'  The  town  is  at  this  crisis  in  a  situation,  nearly  such  as  if 
war  was  formally  declared  against  it.  To  contend  with  our 
parent  state  is  in  our  idea  the  most  shocking  and  dreadful  ex- 
tremity :  but  tamely  to  relinquish  the  only  security,  we  and 
our  posterity  retain  of  the  enjoyment  of  our  lives  and  proper- 
ties, without  one  struggle,  is  so  humiliating  and  base,  that  we 
cannot  support  the  reflection.  We  apprehend,  Sir,  that  it  is 
at  your  option,  in  your  power,  and  we  would  hope  in  your 
inclination,  to  prevent  this  distressed  and  justly  incensed  peo- 
ple from  effecting  too  much,  and  from  the  shame  and  reproach  of 
attempting  too  littleS 

The  Governour  received  the  deputation  graciously,  but  re- 
plied to  their  petition  to  have  the  Romney  ordered  out  of  the 
harbour,  that  he  had  no  authority  over  H.  M.'s  ships.  Capt. 
Corner,  however,  gave  publick  notice  on  the  20th,  that  he 
would  not  take  any  man  belonging  to  or  married  in  the 
province,  nor  any  employed  in  the  trade  along  shore,  or  to 
the  neighbouring  colonies.  The  legislature  being  in  session, 
the  town  gave  instructions  to  their  representatives,  in  terms 
equally  strong  with  those  expressed  in  the  above  petition  : 
but  they  had  little  opportunity  to  act  in  conformity  to  them  : 
for  on  the  first  of  July,  the  House  was  dissolved  by  the  Gov- 
ernour, in  consequence  of  a  refusal  to  rescind  and  disavow 
their  circular  letter  of  Feb.  11th,  in  compliance  with  the  or- 
ders of  the  British  ministry. 

On  the  first  of  August,  211  Boston  merchants  and  traders 
agreed,  that,  for  one  year  from  the  last  day  of  the  present 
year,  they  would  not  send  for  or  import,  either  on  their  own 
account  or  on  commission,  or  purchase  of  any  that  may  im- 
port, any  kind  of  merchandise  from  G.  B.  except  coals,  salt, 
and  some  articles  necessary  for  the  fisheries,  nor  import  any 
lea,  glass,  paper,  or  colours,  until  the  acts  imposing  duties 
on  those  articles  are  repealed.  In  that  month  also,  another 
difficulty  occurred  between  some  of  the  town's  people  and  the 


History  of  boston.  273 

crew  of  the  Romney,  in  which  the  former  gained  their  point 
and  compelled  the  man-of-war's  men  to  quit  the  wharf,  which 
they  did  in  great  fury.  On  the  14th,  a  large  company  cele- 
brated the  anniversary  of  the  first  opposition  to  the  stamp  act 
at  the  Tree  of  Liberty. 

The  combination  of  all  these  proceedings  on  the  part  of 
the  people  of  Boston,  furnished  Gen.  Thomas  Gage,  who  was 
commander  of  the  military  forces  in  North  America,  with  a 
sufficient  pretence  for  sending  a  portion  of  regular  troops  into 
Boston.  His  intentions  to  do  so  became  generally  known  in 
July,  but  nothing  certain  was  determined  until  September. 
On  the  12th  of  that  month,  a  town  meeting  was  held  on  the 
subject  in  Faneuil-Hall. '  The  meeting  was  opened  with  pray- 
er by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Cooper,  of  Brattle-street  church. 
Mr.  Otis  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Messrs.  T.  Cushing, 
Sam'l  Adams,  Richard  Dana,  John  Rowe,  John  Hancock, 
Benja.  Kent,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  were  appointed  to  wait 
on  His  Ex.  and  humbly  request  him  to  communicate  the  rea- 
sons on  which  he  supposed  troops  would  be  ordered  here.  A 
committee  was  also  appointed  to  request  him  forthwith  to  issue 
precepts  for  a  general  assembly.  H.  E.  replied,  that  his  in- 
formation respecting  the  troops  was  only  of  a  private  nature, 
and  that  the  business  of  calling  another  Assembly  was  before 
the  king,  and  H.  E.  could  do  nothing  in  it  without  H.  M.'s 
commands. 

But  it  did  not  please  the  town  of  Boston  to  wait  for  His 
Majesty's  determination.  They  met  again  on  the  next  day,  and 
among  other  things*  resolved  to  choose  '  a  suitable  number  of 
persons  to  act  for  them  as  a  committee  in  convention,  with  such 
as  may  be  sent  to  join  them  from  the  several  towns  in  this 
province,  in  order  that  such  measures  may  be  consulted  and 
advised  as  H.  M.'s  service,  and  the  peace  and  safety  of  his 
subjects  in  the  province  may  require.'  A  circular  was  forth- 
with addressed  to  the  several  towns,  and  on  Thursday  the 
22d  of  September,  upwards  of  seventy  gentlemen  appeared 
as  committees  from  sixty-six  towns,!  besides  districts.  Messrs 
Otis,  S.  Adams,  Hancock,  and  Cushing,  were  the  members 
from  Boston.  Cushing  was  chosen  chairman.  Their  debates 
and  proceedings  were  open  :  and  the  first  step  was  to  prepare 
a  petition  to  H.  E.  for  the  calling  of  a  General  Assembly. 
H.  E.  begged  to  be  excused  '  from  receiving  a  message  from 
that   assembly,  which  is   called  a  Committee  of  Convention, 


*  One  vote  was,  that  '  as  there  is  at  this  time  a  prevailing  apprehension  of  approaching 
war  with  France,'  every  inhabitant  be  requested  to  provide  himself  with  '  a  well  fixed 
firelock,  musket,  accoutrements,  and  ammunition,'  as  the  law  requires. 

*  The  number  afterwards  increased  to  above  100  from  98  towns  and  districts. 

35 


274  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

for  that  would  be  to  admit  it  to  be  a  legal  assembly,  which  I 
can  by  no  means  allow.'  On  the  same  day,  H.  E.  sent  a 
message,  without  a  signature,  declaring  his  opinion  that  this 
convention  was  to  all  intents  and  purposes  '  an  assembly  of 
the  representatives  of  the  people,'  and  therefore,  says  he,  '  I 
do  earnestly  admonish  you,  that,  instantly  and  before  you  do 
any  business,  you  break  up  this  assembly  and  separate  your- 
selves.' This  message  was  by  vote  ordered  to  be  returned  to 
the  secretary,  and  the  next  day  it  was  sent  with  the  signature 
of  Fra.  Bernard.  On  Saturday,  the  convention  sent  an  an- 
swer, by  way  of  message,  but  H.  E.  refused  to  receive  it. 
The  convention  continued  their  session  every  day  till  the 
29th,  during  which  time  they  adopted  a  letter  to  be  transmit- 
ted to  Dennys  De  Berdt,  the  agent  of  the  province,  at  London, 
and  published  '  a  result  of  their  conference  and  consultation,' 
in  which  they  declared  their  allegiance  to  the  king,  their  ab- 
horrence of  riots,  and  their  determination  to  yield  all  assist- 
ance to  the  civil  magistrate  towards  suppressing  them,  and 
also  declared  their  rights,  by  charter  and  by  nature,  and  their 
humble  dependence  on  their  gracious  sovereign,  that  their 
wrongs  would  be  speedily  redressed. 

It  is  probable,  that  the  convention  effected  all  that  was  de- 
sirable at  that  moment,  and  fortunate  perhaps  that  they  dis- 
persed so  soon  :  Otherwise  Gov.  Bernard  might  have  im- 
proved the  opportunity,  as  he  threatened,  to  '  assert  the  pre- 
rogative of  the  crown  in  a  more  publick  manner.'  For  on 
the  28th  of  Sept.  six  of  H.  M.'s  ships  of  war,  from  Halifax, 
came  to  anchor  in  Nantasket.  '  On  Friday,  Sept.  30th,  1768, 
the  ships  of  war,  armed  schooners,  transports,  &c.  came  up 
the  harbour  and  anchored  round  the  town  ;  their  cannon 
loaded  and  springs  on  their  cables,  as  for  a  regular  siege.  At 
noon  on  Saturday,  Oct.  1,  the  14th  and  29th  regiments,  a  de- 
tachment from  the  59th,  and  train  of  artillery  with  two  pieces 
of  cannon,  landed  on  the  Long-wharf,  then  formed  and 
marched  with  insolent  parade,  drums  beating,  fifes  playing, 
and  colours  flying,  up  King-street  :  each  soldier  having  re- 
ceived sixteen  round  of  shot.'* 

During  various  disputes  about  quarters  for  the  troops,  the 
council  maintaining  that  they  were  not   obliged  by  law,  in- 


*  This  quotation  is  from  an  engraving  of  the  scene,  published  by  Paul  Revere.  The  view 
embraces  the  front  of  the  town  from  the  Old  South  meeting-house  to  the  North  Battery  ; 
Eight  ships  of  war  with  tenders  are  seen  lying  off  the  wharves  :  the  Red  coats  landing  on 
the  S.  side  of  Long-whf :  and  a  truck  placed  about  midway,  under  guard,  to  prevent  the  peo- 
ple passing  down.  It  is  dedicated  thus  :  '  To  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  II.  M.'s  secretary  of 
state  for  America,  this  view  of  the  only  well-planned  expedition,  formed  for  supporting  the 
dignity  of  Britain  and  chastising  the  insolence  of  America,  is  humbly  inscribed  J 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  275 

deed  that  they  were  forbidden  by  law,  to  quarter  them  in 
the  town,  while  the  barracks  at  the  Castle  were  not  filled, 
some  of  them  were  lodged  in  the  Town-house,  some  in  Faneuil- 
hall,  and  some  in  stores  at  Griffin's  wharf:  and  the  town  was 
afflicted  with  all  the  appearance  and  inconveniences  of  a  gar- 
risoned place. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  luxury  of  Tea  became  pro- 
scribed. In  Boston  200  families  had  agreed  to  abstain  en- 
tirely from  the  use  of  it,  by  the  6th  of  October  :  other  towns 
followed  the  example,  and  entered  into  similar  agreements  ; 
the  students  of  Harvard  College  are  highly  applauded  for 
resolving,  '  with  a  spirit  becoming  Americans,  to  use  no  more 
of  that  pernicious  herb,'  and  '  a  gentleman  in  town,  finding  it 
very  little  in  demand,  shipped  off  a  considerable  quantity  of 
the  despised  article.' 

'  Amusements  that  would  have  been  at  other  times  innocent 
and  congenial,  were  now  foregone  :  especially  if  they  were 
to  be  partaken  with  those,  who  were  held  to  be  the  instru- 
ments of  despotism.  A  striking  example  was  given,  the  win- 
ter after  the  British  troops  arrived.  Some  of  the  crown  offi- 
cers, who  thought  the  publick  gloom  disloyal,  circulated  a 
proposal  for  a  regular  series  of  dancing  assemblies,  with  the 
insidious  design  of  engaging  the  higher  classes  in  fashionable 
festivity,  to  falsify  the  assertions  of  the  prevailing  distress, 
and  also  to  undermine  the  stern  reserve,  that  was  maintained 
towards  the  army,  and  thereby  allay  the  indignation  against 
the  system,  which  they  were  sent  to  enforce.  But,  out  of  the 
contracted  limits  of  their  own  circle,  they  could  not  obtain 
the  presence  of  any  ladies.  Elegant  manners,  gay  uniforms, 
animating  bands  of  musick,  the  natural  impulse  of  youth,  all 
were  resisted  :  the  women  of  Boston  refused  to  join  in  osten- 
tatious gaiety,  while  their  country  was  in  mourning.'  * 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 

Remember  March  !  the  ides  of  Mareb  remember. 


Shakspeart. 


'  On  Monday,  the  30th  of  January,   1769,  at  about  half  af- 
ter 10  o'clock  at  night,  the   people  adjoining  to  the  gaol  were 


*  News-letter,  Nov.  10.  '  Several  transports  arrived  here  this  morning-  from  Cork,  hav- 
ing on  board  part  of  the  64th  and  65th  regiments  :  the  remainder  are  not  yet  in.' 

'  We  hear,  the  Honourable  the  Commissioners  of  Customs  leave  Castle  William  this  week. 
Preparations  are  making  to  hold  their  board  in  town,  [at  Ooncerfr-Hall,]  as  heretofore.' 


276  II1ST0IIY    OF  BOSTON. 

alarmed  by  the  prisoners  crying  Fire  !  on  which  the  keeper 
and  a  number  of  persons  ran  there,  and  found  part  of  the  in- 
side in  a  blaze.  It  was  some  time  before  the  prisoners 
could  be  got  out,  the  inner  keys  being  lost  in  the  confusion, 
and  the  wooden  work  being  so  strongly  bound  with  iron,  that 
it  was  difficult  to  cut  through  the  doors  and  partitions.  Capt. 
Wilson  of  the  59th  reg.  was  particularly  active  in  extricating 
them.  It  was  expected  the  fire  would  be  kept  under,  but  the 
great  quantity  of  inside  timber  work,  occasioned  it  to  rage 
with  great  violence,  and  the  flames  burst  through  the  windows 
and  reached  the  roof,  which  after  burning  some  hours  fell  in  : 
the  wood  work  burnt  all  night,  and  in  the  morning  nothing 
remained  but  the  bare  stone  walls.  During  the  continuance 
of  the  fire,  the  town's  people  behaved  with  their  usual  alac- 
rity ;  and  many  of  the  military  were  very  active  in  assisting 
them  ;  the  commodore  was  present,  a  number  of  officers  and 
sailors  were  landed  from  the  ships,  and  an  engine  was  sent 
from  the  Romney.  The  commander  of  the  main  guard,  with 
a  party  offered  their  service  on  the  first  alarm,  which  was  de- 
clined ;  but  they  were  afterwards  sent  for  and  took  charge  of 
some  of  the  prisoners.'  This  is  the  only  good  deed  we  have 
found  attributed  to  the  regular  soldiers. 

It  was  generally  understood  in  Boston,  that  the  occurrences 
in  the  town,  for  some  time  past,  had  been  represented  at  home 
in  an  unfavourable  light :  the  selectmen*  thought  it  their  duty 
to  call  upon  Governour  Bernard,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  to 
communicate  to  them  such  representations  of  facts  as  he  had 
sent  to  England  ;  and  at  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  the 
town  addressed  the  king  in  a  most  dutiful  and  loyal  petition, 
setting  forth  their  grievances,  and  in  the  most  affecting  strains 
begging  his  royal  protection,  against  their  revilers  and  op- 
pressors. 

When  the  time  for  the  annual  choice  of  representatives 
came  round,  the  selectmen  waited  on  Gen.  Mackay,  who  com- 
manded the  troops  in  town,  with  the  request  that  he  would  or- 
der them  out  of  the  town  on  the  day  of  election.  The  Gene- 
ral declared  that  it  was  not  in  his  power,  but  engaged  to  con- 
fine them  within  their  barracks.  The  town  met  on  the  5th 
of  May,  and  before  proceeding  to  business,  entered  upon  their 
records  a  declaration  of  their  rights,  and  a  protest '  that  their 
proceeding  to  an  election  under  such  circumstances,  is  wholly 
from  necessity,  and  not  to  be  considered  as  a  precedent  at  any 
time  hereafter,  or  construed  as  a  voluntary  receding  from  the 
incontestible  rights  of  British  subjects  and  freeholders   on   so 


*  Joshua  Henshaw,  Jos.  Jackson,  J.  Ruddock,  J.  Hancock,  J.  Rowe,  Saral.  Pemberton. 
II.  Inches. 


HISTOKY    OF    BOSTON.  277 

interesting  an  affair.'  The  next  day,  Messrs.  Otis,  Cushing, 
Adams,  and  Hancock,  were  chosen  again;  H.  having  505, 
A.  503,  C.  and  O.  502,  out  of  508  votes  :  a  result  that  speaks 
strongly  of  the  unanimity  of  the  town. 

When  the  legislature  met,  they  refused  to  proceed  to  busi- 
ness in  the  Town-house,  other  than  the  choice  of  counsellors 
and  officers,  unless  the  fleet  and  army  were  removed  from  the 
town  and  harbour.  After  waiting  a  fortnight,  the  Governour 
adjourned  them  to  Cambridge.  There  they  passed  votes  of 
censure  upon  his  conduct.  They  also  passed  a  petition  to 
the  king  for  his  removal,  and  on  the  day  after  (June  28,)  he 
informed  them  that  he  was  ordered  to  attend  upon  the  king 
to  lay  before  him  the  state  of  the  province.  He  left  Boston, 
July  31,  and  Lieut.  Gov.  Hutchinson  officiated  in  his  stead. 

The  occasions  of  controversy  between  the  people  and  the 
servants  of  the  crown  were  now  almost  as  frequent  as  the  occa- 
sions of  intercourse,  and  every  man  felt  himself  interested  in 
every  occurrence  that  interested  his  neighbour.  But  the 
greatest  excitement  produced  by  any  thing,  that  more  particu- 
larly concerned  an  individual,  arose  from  an  attack  upon  Mr. 
Otis.  His  name  had  been  introduced,  in  an  offensive  manner, 
in  some  paper  of  the  commissioners  of  the  customs,  and  he 
therefore  advertised  them  by  name,  Henry  Hulton,  Charles 
Paxton.  William  Burch,  and  John  Robinson,  as  no  more  worthy 
of  credit  than  Sir  Francis  Bernard,  of  Nettleham,  Baronet. 
'  The  noxt  evening,  (Sept.  5th,)  about  7  o'lock,  Mr.  O.  went 
to  the  British  Coffee-house,  [it  was  on  the  spot  where  the 
Massachusetts  Bank  now  stands,  in  State-st.]  where  Mr.  Rob- 
inson was  sitting  in  company  with  a  number  of  army,  navy, 
and  revenue  officers.  As  soon  as  he  came  in,  an  altercation 
took  place,  which  terminated  in  Robinson's  striking  Otis  with 
a  cane,  which  was  returned  with  a  weapon  of  the  same  kind. 
Great  confusion  then  ensued.  The  lights  were  extinguished, 
and  Otis,  without  a  friend,  was  surrounded  by  the  adherents 
of  Robinson.  A  young  man,  by  the  name  of  John  Gridley, 
passing  by,  very  boldly  entered  the  Coffee-house,  to  lake  the 
part  of  Otis  against  so  many  foes  ;  but  he  was  also  assaulted, 
beaten,  and  turned  out  of  the  house.  After  some  time  the 
combatants  were  separated  ;  Robinson  retreated  by  a  back 
passage,  and  Otis  was  led  home  wounded  and  bleeding.  The 
animosity  that  existed  towards  the  revenue  officers,  for  their 
insolent  and  oppressive  conduct,  the  sympathy  and  admira- 
tion that  were  cherished  for  the  character,  talents,  and  servi- 
ces of  the  leading  patriot  of  his  day,  all  conspired  to  give  this 
transaction  the  odium  of  a  scheme  of  assassination.  Mr.  O. 
instituted  an  action  against  Robinson,  and  obtained  a  verdict 
in  his  favour  for  £2,000  sterling  damages.     This  sum  he  no- 


278  HISTORX    OF    150STON. 

bly  declined  receiving,  on  a  suitable  apology  from  the  de- 
fendant.* 

In  January,  1770,  the  merchants  renewed  their  agreement 
not  to  import  British  goods.  They  held  several  meetings  in 
Faneuil-Hall,  and  appointed  committees  of  inspection,  who 
should  examine  into  the  truth  of  reports,  concerning  the  un- 
faithfulness of  some  who  had  signed  the  articles.  The  names 
of  several  were  reported,  and  ordered  to  be  published.  Lieut. 
Gov.  Hutchinson  sent  a  message  to  one  of  these  meetings,  by 
the  sheriff,  (whose  name  was  Stephen  Greenleaf,)  '  enjoining 
and  requiring  them  without  delay  to  separate  and  disperse, 
and  to  forbear  all  such  unlawful  assemblies  for  the  fu- 
ture.' After  a  calm  consideration  of  the  message,  it  was 
unanimously  voted  to  proceed  :  and  a  written  answer 
was  sent  to  His  Honour,  signifying  their  opinion  that  the 
meeting  was  warranted  by  law. 

Theophilus  Lillie,  who  kept  a  shop  near  the  New  Brick 
meeting-house,  was  one  of  those  denounced  as  Importers.  On 
the  22d  of  February,  some  persons  erected  near  Lillie's,  a 
large  wooden  head,  fixed  on  a  pole,  on  which  the  faces  of 
several  importers  were  carved.  One  Ebenezer  Richardson 
living  in  the  neighbourhood,  (who  had  acquired  the  appella- 
tion of  Informer,)  endeavoured  to  persuade  some  teamsters  from 
the  country,  to  run  the  post  down  with  their  carts  ;  but 
they  understanding  the  nature  of  the  pageantry,  would  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  Richardson  foolishly  persisted,  and 
seized  the  bridle  of  the  horses,  but  failed  of  his  intent  to  guide 
the  team  against  the  post.  On  this,  the  boys  set  up  a  shout, 
which  being  resented  by  Richardson,  they  pelted  him  with 
dirt  till  they  drove  him  into  his  own  house.  The  noise  gath- 
ered a  considerable  number  of  people.  Hard  words  passed 
between  Richardson  and  some  of  the  multitude  ;  stones  were 
thrown  on  both  sides,  till  at  length  Richardson  discharged  a 
musket  at  random  from  his  door,  and  another  from  his  win- 
dow. One  young  man  was  severely  injured,  and  a  boy, 
Christopher  Snider,  about  eleven  years  of  age,  "received  a 
mortal  wound  in  his  breast.  Upon  this  the  bells  were  set  to 
ringing,  and  a  vast  concourse  of  people  drawn  together. 
Richardson,  and  one  Wilmot,  a  seaman,  who  had  taken  his 
part  in  the  affray,  were  secured  and  carried  to  Faneuil-Hall, 
where  they  underwent  an  examination  and  were  committed 
for  trial. 

The  boy  died  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  and  was  remo- 
ved to  his  parents'  house  in  Frog-lane  [Boylston-st.]  All  the 
friends  of  liberty  were  invited  to  attend  the  funeral  '  of  this 

*  Tudor,  p.  362— In  October,  1769,  the  town  published  an  Appeal  to  the  World,  or  Vindi- 
cation of  Boston,  from  the  aspersions  of  Bernard  and  others. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  279 

little  hero  and  first  martyr  to  the  noble  cause.'  This  innocent 
lad  was  announced  as  '  the  first  whose  life  had  been  a  victim 
to  the  cruelty  and  rage  of  oppressors.  Young  as  he  was,  he 
died  in  his  country's  cause,  by  the  hand  of  one,  directed  by 
others,  who  could  not  bear  to  see  the  enemies  of  America 
made  the  ridicule  of  boys.'  On  Monday,  the  26th,  his  funeral 
took  place.  The  little  corpse  was  set  down  under  the  Tree 
of  Liberty,  from  which  the  procession  began.  The  coffin  bore 
inscriptions  appropriate  to  the  times  ;  on  the  foot  '  Latet  un- 
guis in  herbal  on  each  side,  '  Haeret  lateri  lethalis  arundo:'' 
and  on  the  head,  '  Innocentia  nusquam  tuta.''  Four  or  five  hun- 
dred school  boys,  in  couples,  preceded  the  corpse ;  six  of  the 
lad's  playfellows  supported  the  pall;  the  relatives  followed, 
and  after  them  a  train  of  1300  inhabitants  on  foot,  and  thirty 
chariots  and  chaises  closed  the  procession. 

A  more  imposing  spectacle  than  this  could  hardly  have 
been  contrived,  or  one  better  adapted  to  produce  a  lasting 
impression  on  the  hearts  of  the  beholders:  but  it  was  only 
the  prelude  to  a  scene  of  far  greater  horrour.  The  morning 
papers  of  Monday,  the  fifth  of  March,  which  told  of  this  trans- 
action, gave  also  several  accounts  of  quarrels  between  the  sol- 
diers and  different  individuals  belonging  to  the  town.  The 
officers  were  apprehensive  of  difficulties,  and  were  particular- 
ly active  in  their  endeavours  to  get  all  their  men  into  their 
barracks  before  night.  Murray's  Barracks,  so  called,  where 
the  14th  regiment  was  principally  quartered,  were  in  Brattle- 
street,  in  the  buildings  directly  opposite  the  little  alley,  which 
leads  from  the  bottom  of  Market-street.  The  29th  regt.  was 
quartered  in  Water-street  and  in  Atkinson-street.  As  a  meas- 
ure of  precaution,  there  was  a  sentinel  stationed  in  the  alley 
before  mentioned,  (then  called  Boylston's  alley)  and  this  very 
circumstance  led  to  the  quarrel  which  terminated  in  the 
Boston  Massacre.  Three  or  four  young  men,  who  were  dispos- 
ed to  go  through  the  alley,  about  nine  o'clock,  observed  the 
sentinel  brandishing  his  sword  against  the  walls  and  striking 
fire  for  his  own  amusement.  They  offered  to  pass  him  and 
were  challenged,  but  persisted  in  their  attempt,  and  one  of 
them  received  a  slight  wound  on  his  head.  The  bustle  of 
this  rencontre  drew  together  all  those  who  were  passing  by, 
and  fifteen  or  twenty  persons  thronged  the  alley,  and  thirty 
or  forty  more,  gathered  in  Dock-square,  were  attempting  to 
force  their  way  to  the  barracks  through  Brattle-street,  (which 
was  at  that  time  so  narrow  that  a  carriage  could  with  difficulty 
pass.)  Being  foiled  in  this  attempt,  the  party,  which  was  con- 
tinually increased  by  accessions,  gathered  in  Dock-square 
round  a  tall  man  with  a  red  cloak  and  white  wig,  to  whom 
they  listened  with  close  attention  two  or  three  minutes,  and 
then  gave  three  cheers  and  huzzaed  for  the  main  guard. 


230  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

The  main  guard  was  regularly  stationed  near  the  head  of 
State-street,  directly  opposite  the  door  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Town-house.  To  this  place  all  the  soldiers  detached  for 
guard  duty  were  daily  brought,  and  from  thence  marched  to 
the  particular  posts  assigned  them.  On  this  day  the  com- 
mand of  the  guard  had  devolved  on  Capt.  Thomas  Preston, 
and  Lt.  Basset  under  him. 

As  the  parly  dispersed  from  Dock-square,  some  ran  up 
Cornhill,  others  up  Wilson's  lane,  others  up  Royal  Exchange 
lane  (now  Exchange  street.)  These  last  found  a  single  senti- 
nel stationed  before  the  door  of  the  Custom  house,  which  was 
the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Union  Bank,  and  then 
made  one  corner  of  that  lane,  as  the  Royal  Exchange  tavern 
did  the  other.  As  the  sentinel  was  approached,  he  retreated 
to  the  steps  of  the  house,  and  alarmed  the  inmates  by  three  or 
four  powerful  knocks  at  the  door.  Word  was  sent  to  Lt.  Bas- 
sett  that  the  sentinel  was  attacked  by  the  town's  people.  He 
immediately  sent  a  message  to  his  captain,  who  instantly  re- 
paired to  the  guard  house,  where  Lt.  Basset  informed  him 
that  he  had  just  sent  a  Serjeant  and  six  men  to  assist  the 
sentry  at  the  Custom  house.  ■  Well,'  said  the  captain,  ■  1  will 
follow  them  and  see  they  do  no  mischief.'  He  overtook  them 
before  they  reached  the  Custom  house,  where  they  joined 
the  sentinel  and  formed  a  half  circle  round  the  steps. 

By  this  time  the  bells  were  set  to  ringing,  and  people  flock- 
ed from  aJl  quarters,  supposing  there  was  fire.  The  soldiers 
were  soon  surrounded  ;  many  of  those  nearest  to  them  were 
armed  with  clubs  and  crowded  close  upon  them  ;  those  at  a 
distance  began  to  throw  sticks  of  wood  and  snow-balls  and 
pieces  of  ice  at  them,  while  from  all  sides  they  were  challeng- 
ed to  Fire,  fire  if  you  dare.  At  last  they  thought  they  heard 
the  order  given,  and  they  did  fire  in  succession  from  right  to 
left.  Two  or  three  of  the  guns  flashed,  but  the  rest  were 
fatal.  Crispus  Attucks,  Samuel  Gray,  and  James  Caldwell 
were  killed  on  the  spot.,  Samuel  Maverick  and  Patrick  Can- 
received  mortal  wounds,  of  which  the  former  died  the  next 
morning,  and  Carr  on  the  Wednesday  of  the  next  week. 
Several  other  persons  were  more  or  less  injured  :  the  greater 
part,  persons  passing  by  chance  or  quiet  spectators  of  the 
scene.  The  people  instantly  retreated,  leaving  the  three  un- 
happy men  on  the  ground.  All  this  transpired  within  20 
minutes  from  the  time  of  Capt.  Preston's  joining   the   guard. 

\  On  the  people's  assembling  again,'  says  Capt.  P.  '  to  take 
away  the  dead  bodies,  the  soldiers,  supposing  them  coming  to. 
attack  them,  were  making  ready  to  fire  again — which  I  pre- 
vented by  striking  up  their  firelocks  with  my  hand.  Immedi- 
ately after,  a  townsman  came  and  told  me  that  4  or  5000  people 
were  assembled  in  the  next  street,  and  had  sworn  to  take  my 


>4 


b^ 


14 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  281 

life  with  every  man's  with  me  ;  on  which  I  judged  it  unsafe 
to  remain  there  any  longer,  and  therefore  sent  the  party  and 
sentry  to  the  main  guard,  where  the  street  is  narrow  and 
short,  then  telling  them  off  into  street  firings,  divided  and 
planted  them  at  each  end  of  the  street  to  secure  their  rear, 
expecting  an  attack,  as  there  was  a  constant  cry  of  the  inhab- 
itants, '  To  arms,  to  arms,  turn  out  with  your  guns,'  and  the 
town  drums  beating  to  arms.  I  ordered  my  drum  to  beat  to 
arms,  and  being  soon  after  joined  by  the  several  companies 
of  the  29th  regiment,  I  formed  them,  as  the  guard,  into  street 
firings.  The  14th  regiment  also  got  under  arms,  but  remain- 
ed at  their  barracks.  I  immediately  sent  a  serjeant  with  a 
party  to  Col.  Dalrymple,  the  commanding  officer,  to  acquaint 
him  with  every  particular.  Several  officers  going  to  join 
their  regiment  were  knocked  down  by  the  mob,  one  very 
much  wounded  and  his  sword  taken  from  him.  The  Lieut. 
Gov.  and  Col.  Carr  soon  after  met  at  the  head  of  the  29th 
regt.  and  agreed  that  the  regiment  should  retire  to  their  bar- 
racks, and  the  people  to  their  houses  :  but  I  kept  the  piquet 
to  strengthen  the  guard.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the 
Lieut.  Gov.  prevailed  on  the  people  to  be  quiet  and  retire  : 
at  last  they  all  went  off  except  about  a  hundred.'  This  hun- 
dred was  composed  of  some  of  the  most  distinguished  inhabi- 
tants, who  volunteered  to  form  a  citizens'  guard. 

A  justices'  court  was  forthwith  held,  and  Capt.  Preston 
surrendered  himself,  and  was  committed  to  prison  at  three,  the 
next  morning  :  the  eight  soldiers  also  were  committed  early 
in  the  forenoon. 

At  eleven  o'clock  a  town  meeting  was  held.  Various  per- 
sons related  to  the  assembly,  what  they  had  witnessed  of  the 
events  of  the  preceding  day.  A  committee  of  fifteen  was  ap- 
pointed to  wait  on  the  Lieut.  Governour  and  Col.  Dalrymple, 
and  express  to  them  the  sentiment  of  the  town,  that  it  was 
impossible  for  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants  to  live  in  safety  to- 
gether, and  their  fervent  prayer  for  the  immediate  removal  of 
the  former.  The  answer  received  to  this  application  was  not 
such  as  was  wished  ;  and  in  the  afternoon,  seven  of  the  first 
committee  (viz.  John  Hancock,  Samuel  Adams,  Wm.  Moli- 
neux,  Wm.  Phillips,  Jos.  Warren,  Joshua  Henshaw,  and 
Samuel  Pemberton)  were  again  deputed  with  the  following 
message  :  '  It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  this  meeting,  that 
the  reply  made  to  a  vote  of  the  inhabitants  presented  His 
Honour,  this  morning,  is  by  no  means  satisfactory  ;  and  that 
nothing  less  will  satisfy  them,  than  a  total  and  immediate  re- 
moval of  the  troops.'  Samuel  Adams  acted  as  '  chairman  of 
this  delegation,  and  discharged  its  duties  with  an  ability  com- 
mensurate to  the  occasion.  Col.  Dalrvmnle  was  by  the  side 
36 


232  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON^ 

of  Hutchinson,  who  at  the  head  of  the  Council  received  them. 
He  at  first  denied  that  he  had  power  to  grant  the  request. 
Adams  plainly,  in  few  words,  proved  to  him  that  he  had  the 
power  by  the  charter.  Hutchinson  then  consulted  with  Dal- 
rymple  in  a  whisper,  the  result  of  which  was,  a  repetition  of 
the  offer  to  remove  one  of  the  regiments,  the  14th,  which  had 
had  no  part  in  the  massacre.  At  that  critical  moment  Adams 
showed  the  most  admirable  presence  of  mind.  Seeming  not 
to  represent,  but  to  personify,  the  universal  feeling,  he  stretch- 
ed forth  his  arm,  as  if  it  were  upheld  by  the  strength  of  thou- 
sands, and  with  unhesitating  promptness  and  dignified  firm- 
ness replied,  "  If  the  Lieutenant-Governour,  or  Colonel  Dal- 
rymple,  or  both  together,  have  authority  to  remove  one  regi- 
ment, they  have  authority  to  remove  two  :  and  nothing  short 
of  the  total  evacuation  of  the  town,  by  all  the  regular  troops, 
will  satisfy  the  publick  mind  or  preserve  the  peace  of  the  prov- 
ince.^ The  officers,  civil  and  militar}7-,  were  in  reality  abash- 
ed, before  this  plain  committee  of  a  democratick  assembly. 
They  knew  the  imminent  danger  that  impended  :  the  very 
air  was  filled  with  the  breathings  of  compressed  indignation. 
They  shrunk,  fortunately  shrunk,  from  all  the  arrogance, 
which  they  had  hitherto  maintained.  Their  reliance  on  a 
standing  army  faltered  before  the  undaunted,  irresistible  reso- 
lution of  free  unarmed  citizens.' 

Hutchinson  consulted  the  Council,  and  they  gave  him  their 
unqualified  advice,  that  the  troops  should  be  sent  out  of  the 
town.  The  commanding  officer  then  pledged  his  word  of 
honour,  that  the  demand  of  the  town  should  be  complied 
with,  as  soon  as  practicable  ;  and  both  regiments  were  remo- 
ved to  the  Castle  in  less  than  fourteen  days. 

The  funeral  solemnities,  which  took  place  on  Thursday,  the 
8th,  brought  together  the  greatest  concourse,  that  probably 
had  ever  assembled  in  America  on  one  occasion.  Attucks, 
who  was  a  friendless  mulatto,  and  Caldwell,  who  also  was  a 
stranger,  were  borne  from  Faneuil-Hall  ;  Maverick,  who  was 
about  17  years  old,  from  his  mother's  house  in  Union-street, 
and  Gray  from  his  brother's  in  Royal  Exchange  lane. 
The  four  hearses  formed  a  junction  in  King-street,  and  thence 
the  procession  marched  in  columns  of  six  deep  through  the 
main  street  to  the  middle  burial  ground,  where  the  four  victims 
were  deposited  in  one  sgrave. 

The  trial  of  Richardon  and  Wilmot  for  the  murder  of 
Snider  came  on  in  April.  Wilmot  was  cleared,  but  Richard- 
son was  brought  in  guilty  of  murder.  The  Lieut.  Gov.  con- 
sidered it  so  clear  a  case  of  justifiable  manslaughter,  that  he 
refused  to  sign  the  warrant  for  his  execution,  and   after  two 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  283 

years'  confinement,   he    was    ultimately    pardoned    by    the 
king.* 

The  traders  and  people  had  generally  adhered  in  good 
faith  to  the  agreement  not  to  import  or  use  imported  goods. 
In  the  session  of  parliament  this  spring,  a  proposition  was 
sustained  for  repealing  the  duties  on  all  the  articles  except 
tea.  Some  London  traders,  supposing  this  would  break  up 
the  compact,  ventured  to  send  quantities  of  the  proscribed 
merchandize,  and  it  arrived  in  the  latter  part  of  April.!  There 
was  no  willingness  in  Boston  to  admit  of  a  compromise.  On 
the  first  intimation  of  the  design  of  the  ministry,  new  resolu- 
tions had  been  formed,  and  agreements  signed  by  the  ladies 
throughout  the  town,  that  they  would  drink  no  more  of  the 
obnoxious  beverage  (except  in  case  of  sickness)  until  all  the 
acts  were  repealed.  There  was  some  tea  in  the  cargoes  that 
had  just  arrived,  and  nothing  would  satisfy  the  publick  mind 
short  of  its  all  being  returned.  Mr.  Hancock  offered  one  of 
of  his  vessels,  freight  free,  for  the  purpose,  and  she  was  load- 
ed with  great  despatch  and  arrived  safe  in  London,  to  the 
amazement  and  chagrin  of  those  concerned  in  the  consignment. 

At  the  time  of  the  May  election,  the  health  of  Mr.  Otis  had 
so  far  declined,  in  consequence  of  the  injury  he  had  receiv- 
ed, and  of  the  constant  excitement,"which  his  devotion  to  pub- 
lick  business  had  occasioned,  that  the  town  was  therefore 
obliged  to  dispense  with  his  services  in  the  General  Court, 
this  year,  and  elected  in  his  stead  the  Hon.  James  Bowdoin. 
This  gentleman  was  a  descendant  of  the  French  Protestants, 
and  inherited  from  his  father  a  large  estate,  to  which  he  did 
honour  by  his  talents,  his  sound  principles,  and  generous 
views.  He  had  represented  the  town  three  years,  previous 
to  1756,  when  he  was  chosen  into  the  council,  where  he  re- 
tained a  seat  till  Gov.  Bernard  negatived  him  in  1769.  At 
that  board  he  had  been  a  leading  member,  and  ever  stood  in 
the  front  of  opposition  to  what  were  considered  the  arbitrary 
measures  of  government. J 

The  last  Wednesday  in  May,  1770,  exhibited  a  novel 
scene.  The  Court  was  ordered  to  meet  at  the  College  in 
Cambridge,  and  the  Lieut.  Gov.  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
adjourn  them  to  Boston.  '  A  number  of  gentlemen,  friends  to 
the  rights  of  North  America,'  anticipating  this  state  of  things, 


*  On  the  18tb  of  April,  there  was  a  Liberty  Tree  celebration  in  honour  of  John  Wilkes, 
Esq. 

t  In  six  cargoes,  there  was  about  half  a  common  vessel's  lading  of  various  proscribed 
articles.    B.  Gaz.  Ap.  23,  and  News  Letter,  Sept.  13,' 1770. 

{  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  again  chosen  counsellor,  and,  unexpectedly,  Mr.  Hutchinson  suffered 
him  to  go  into  that  board  :  Mr.  John  Adams  was  chosen  to  supply  his  place  as  a  represen 
tative. 


284  HISTORY    01?    BOSTON. 

made  preparations  for  celebrating  this  annua!  festival  of  our 
fathers  in  its  ancient  seat.  In  the  morning,  the  attention  of 
people  was  attracted  to  the  Common,  by  the  roasting  of  an 
ox,  which  had  been  carried  through  the  town,  the  day  before, 
dressed  with  garlands  of  ribbons  and  flowers.  Religious  ser- 
vices were  performed  at  noon  :  Mr.  Samuel  Mather, '  a  wor- 
thy descendant  of  those  christian  patriots,  Increase  and 
Cotton,'  made  the  prayers,  and  Dr.  Chauncy,  '  that  inflexi- 
ble assertor  of  our  civil  and  religious  rights,'  preached  the 
sermon.  A  dinner  at  Faneuil-Hall,  and  the  distribution  of 
the  ox  among  the  poor  concluded  the  day. 

The  melancholy  result  of  the  affray  at  Lillie's  did  not  deter 
the  violent  part  of  the  town  from  attacking  another  of  the 
Importers.  Two  or  three  brothers,  by  the  name  of  M'Masters, 
kept  shop  in  King-street,  at  the  corner  of  Pudding-lane,  (late 
Abiel  Smith,  esq.'s  house,)  where  they  made  bold  to  sell  teas 
or  broadcloth  to  the  tories,  and  arms  and  ammunition  to 
the  whigs,  as  best  suited  their  interest.  But  their  good  servi- 
ces in  the  last  did  not  screen  them  from  vengeance  for  their 
offence  in  the  first.  One  of  them  was  taken  on  the  1 9th  of 
June,  and  carted,  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  from  the  South-end, 
with  a  bag  of  feathers  and  some  tar  in  a  barrel  at  his  side, 
towards  King-street,  where  it  was  intended  to  expose  him  to 
publick  view,  besmeared  with  the  one  and  coated  with  the 
other.  But  as  he  drew  near  to  the  spot,  his  colour  forsook 
his  lips,  his  eye  sunk,  and  he  was  about  to  fall  lifeless  in  the 
cart,  when  some  gentlemen  compassionated  his  case,  so  far  as 
to  beg  permission  to  take  him  into  a  house.  Cordials  were 
exhibited,  and  M'Masters  revived  ;  and  on  a  solemn  promise 
never  to  return,  he  was  excused  from  '  this  new-invented 
mode  of  punishment,'  and  carted,  sitting  in  a  chair,  to  the 
Roxbury  line,  where  he  was  dismissed  with  hearty  cheers. 

The  trial  of  Capt.  Preston  and  the  soldiers  seemed  to  be 
unnecessarily  delayed,  and  some  apprehensions  were  mur- 
mured, that  they  might  be  rescued  by  government  from  the 
hand  of  the  law.  In  September,  the  Castle,  which  had  hith- 
erto been  in  charge  of  a  province  garrison,  was  by  order 
from  England  delivered  by  the  Lieut.  Gov.  into  the  command 
of  Col,  Dalrymple,  and  the  absence  of  troops  from  the  town 
was  compensated  by  the  presence  of  six  ships  of  war  and 
two  schooners  in  the  harbour.  At  length  the  trial  of  Capt. 
Preston  was  commenced  in  October.  He  was  defended  with 
masterly  ability,  by  John  Adams  and  Josiah  Quiney  jr.  esqrs.* 
who,  to  use  the  words  of  Tudor,  '  in  so  doing,  gave  a  proof 
of  that  elevated  genuine  courage,  which  ennobles   human  na- 


•  Assisted  by  Sampson  Salter  Blowers,  esq.  in  the  case  of  the  soldiers* 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  28& 

lure.  For  leaders  on  the  patriolick  side,  the  attempt,  while 
the  publick  were  in  a  state  of  such  high  exasperation,  to  de- 
fend an  officer  who  was  accused  of  murdering  their  fellow 
citizens,  required  an  effort  of  no  ordinary  mind  :  it  was  made 
successfully,  and  will  ever  hold  a  distinguished  rank  among 
those  causes  that  adorn  the  profession  of  the  law  ;  in  which 
a  magnanimous,  fearless  advocate  boldly  espouses  the  side  of 
the  unfortunate,  against  the  passions  of  the  people,  and  haz- 
ards his  own  safety  or  fortune  in  the  exertion.'  Capt.  P.  was 
acquitted  and  discharged  October  29th. 

The  soldiers  were  afterwards  tried,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember, six  of  them  were  found  JVb*  Guilty,  and  the  verdict 
against  the  other  two,  Matthew  Killroy  and  Hugh  Montgom- 
ery, was  \  Not  guilty  of  murder,  but  guilty  of  manslaughter.' 
These  two  were  slightly  branded,  and  all  of  them  liberated 
and  sent  to  the  Castle. 

At  this  distance  of  time,  we  can  look  back  and  rejoice  in 
this  result,  which  was  an  honourable  triumph  of  law  and  mer- 
cy over  violence  and  revenge.  But  in  that  day  of  irritation 
there  were  many  who  believed  the  soldiers  worthy  of  death, 
and  regarded  their  acquittal  as  the  effect  of  legal  chicanery. 
Those  who  still  bore  in  their  own  limbs  the  scars  of  wounds 
received  on  the  fatal  fifth  of  March,  and  those  who  were  still 
mourning  for  the  loss  of  their  friends,  could  not  suffer  its  an- 
niversary day  to  pass  unnoticed.  It  was  proposed  to  substi- 
tute the  celebration  of  the  Boston  Massacre  for  that  of  the 
Gunpowder  plot.  Accordingly  when  the  evening  arrived,  in 
1771,  an  address  was  delivered  by  Dr.  Thomas  Young  to  a 
collection  of  people  at  the  Manufactory  House.*  At  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  Mr.  Paul  Revere  (afterwards  Col.) 
who  lived  in  North  square,  had  his  house  illuminated,  and  at 
one  window  exhibited  a  representation  of  Snider's  ghost,  at 
another  a  view  of  the  massacre,  and  at  a  third  the  Genius  of 
America  in  tears.  The  whole  exhibition  was  so  well  execut- 
ed, that  it  produced  a  melancholy  gloom  and  solemn  silence 
in  several   thousand   spectators,  which  was  deepened  by  the 


*  This  building  stood  where  Hamilton  place  now  does.  It  was  selected  for  this  occasion, 
because  the  first  opposition  to  the  soldiers  had  been  made  here  in  October,  1768.  Mr.  John 
Brown,  having  possession  of  the  building  as  a  tenant  under  the  province,  refused  admission 
to  the  military. — The  Sheriff  was  sent  by  Gov.  Bernard  to  take  possession  and  was  refused 
admittance.  On  a  third  attempt  he  found  a  window  open,  and  entered  by  that :  upon  which, 
the  people  gathered  about  him  and  made  him  prisoner.  Notice  of  this  being  given  to  an 
officer  of  the  regiment  on  the  Common,  a  party  of  soldiers  came  and  took  possession  of  the 
yard  and  relieved  the  sherifffrom  his  confinement.  Mr.  Brown  continued  obstinate  :  the 
soldiers  stood  guard  all  that  day  and  the  best  part  of  the  next,  when  the  council  declared  to 
the  governour,  that  they  would  not  justify  the  use  of  force  to  dispossess  him,  and  the  sol? 
diers  were  withdrawn. 


236  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON'. 

dismal  sound  of  the  bells  tolling  from  nine  to  ten  o'clock. 
These  were  the  acts  of  private  individuals,  but  they  proba- 
bly occasioned  the  resolution  to  commemorate  the  fifth  of 
March  in  a  publick  way.  Master  James  Lovell  was  this  year 
appointed  and  delivered  the  first  of  the  'Boston  Orations'  on 
the  2d  of  April,  and  provision  was  made  for  a  similar  cele- 
bration, by  the  timely  appointment  of  Dr.  Joseph  Warren  for 
the  orator  of  the  next  year.* 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

"  For  that  he  has, 
As  much  as  in  him  lies,  from  time  to  time 
Envied  against  the  people,  seeking  means 
To  pluck  away  their  power." 

Mr.  Hutchinson  had  received  a  commission  promoting  him 
to  the  office  of  Governour  on  the  8th  of  March,  1771,  and  been 
proclaimed  in  customary  form  on  the  fifteenth.  On  the  third 
of  April,  he  met  the  General  Court  at  Cambridge.  As  soon 
as  they  had  opportunity,  they  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
sent him  a  verbal  message  requesting  him  to  '  remove  the 
court  to  its  ancient  and  legal  seat,  the  town  of  Boston.'  This 
he  declined  to  do,  while  the  House  denied  the  King's  right  to 
order  the  court  to  be  held  where  he  thought  proper.  A  con- 
troversy was  maintained  for  a  long  time  on  this  subject,  which 
served  to  make  the  governour  an  object  of  publick  odium. 
This  was  not  decreased  by  his  proclamation  for  aid  and  as- 
sistance to  a  recruiting  party,  which  arrived  here  on  the  29th 
of  April  to  enlist  for  His  Majesty's  service.!  People  could  not 
misunderstand  this  movement,  or  consider  it  in  any  other 
light  than  that  of  a  pretext  for  keeping  a  guard  in  the  town, 
to  be  in  readiness  to  protect  the  crown  officers.  And  they 
found  it  employed  for  that  purpose,  on  occasion  of  a  ball  at 
Concert-hall,  given  by  Mrs.  Gambier,  wife  of  the  commander  of 
the  naval  forces  on  this  station,  on  the  king's  birth  day  (June  4,) 


*  The  anniversary  was  observed  every  year  till  1783,  inclusive.  The  orators  in  order 
were,  Mr.  Lovell,  Dr.  Warren,  Dr.  Benja.  Church,  John  Hancock,  Dr.  Warren,  Rev.  Peter 
Thacher  (of  Maiden,  at  Watertown,  1776,)  Benja.  Hichborn,  Jona.  W.  Austin,  Wm.  Tudor. 
Jona.  Mason  Jr.  Thomas  Dawes  Jr.  Geo.  R.  Blinot,  Dr.  Thomas  Welsh.  The  orations 
are  published  in  a  separate  volume. 

t  From  an  advertisement  of  Mr.  Hancock's  in  the  B.  Gazette  of  April  15th,  it  appears 
that  the  agreement  not  to  import,  had  before  that  time  become  null,  except  as  to  the  article 
of  Tea  on  which  the  duty  of  three  pence  per  pound  was  still  demanded. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  287 

which  was  attended  by  the  Governour  and  other  friends  to 
government. 

The  General  Court,*  which  was  obliged  again  to  assemble 
at  Cambridge,  found  other  causes  of  complaint.  It  had  been 
decided  in  England  that  the  Governour's  salary  should  be 
paid  by  the  crown,  and  thus  he  was  made  independent  of  the 
people.  The  alarm  which  this  step  occasioned  was  very  ex- 
tensive, and  the  indignation  expressed  against  it  was  couched 
in  no  equivocal  terms.  The  language  of  the  whigs  became 
every  day  more  high-toned :  '  We  know,'  say  the  H.  of.  R. 
on  one  occasion,  '  we  know  of  no  commissioners  of  His  Majesty's 
customs,  nor  of  any  revenue  His  Majesty  has  a  right  to  establish 
in  North  America^  Heretofore  the  complaint  had  been 
against  the  ministry  and  parliament ;  we  find  it  here  against 
the  King  himself.  But  this  increased  determination  in  favour 
of  liberty  produced  no  popular  tumult :  Boston  remained  as 
quiet  throughout  the  year,  as  it  had  ever  been  before  the  ar- 
rival of  the  troops,  and  entirely  free  from  those  petty  broils, 
which  the  soldiers  were  always  creating.  The  greatest  agi- 
tation was  occasioned,  by  an  abortive  attempt  to  procure 
an  indictment  against  Mr.  Isaiah  Thomas,  for  an  article  which 
appeared  in  his  Massachusetts  Spy,  November  14th,  signed 
Mucins  Sccevola,  which  was  said  to  be  the  most  daring  produc- 
tion ever  published  in  America.  The  Spy  had  been  estab- 
lished about  a  year  in  Boston,  and  had  taken  a  very  decided 
stand  in  favour  of  liberty,  in  a  stile  calculated  to  engage  the 
middling  class  of  society.! 

Early  in  1772.|  a  prominent  writer  made  the  declaration, 
'  the  dispute  between  the  kingdom  and  colonies  has  ceased 
every  where  except  in  this  province — We  are  now  left  in  the 
lurch — every  other  colony  has  made  its  peace.'  On  this 
ground  he  exhorted  the  Massachusetts  to  lay  aside  their 
animosities,  and  submit  like  dutiful  children  to  parental  au- 
thority. Governour  H.  intimated  the  same  in  his  messages  to 
the  General  Court.  This  drew,  from  the  partizans  on  the 
other  side,  rejoinders  equally  positive  of  the  contrary,  'They 
(the  colonies)  will  soon  put  in  practise  their  meditated  plan  of 
the    United  Provinces,  and   form  an    independent    common- 


*  Mr.  Otis  was  returned  this  year  (1771)  from  Boston  instead  of  Mr.  John  Adams  :  but  his 
infirmities  had  now  increased  so  much  that  he  could  no  longer  give  a  close  and  continued 
attention  to  business  :  he  withdrew  soon  after  from  publick  life,  and  was  bereft  of  his  rea- 
son, except  at  very  short  intervals,  for  several  years  before  his  death,  which  happened  at 
Andover,  May  23,  1783. 

t  See  News  Letter,  Feb.  6,1772.  Bost.  Gaz.  March  2,  May  11,  July  17.  Thomas'  H. 
0fP.i1.  249. 

The  Boston  representatives,  in  1772,  were    S.  Adams,  Hancock,  Cushing,   and   William 
Phillips,  who  also  served  in  '73  and  '74. 


288  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

wealth. — That  the  colonies  will  in  some  future  time  be  an 
independent  state  is  morally  certain — it  is  very  near — 'tis  not 
probable  that  it  is  at  the  distance  of  fifteen  years.'  Again,  in 
May,  on  a  rumour  that  war  was  to  be  expected  between  En- 
gland and  some  European  power,  the  people  are  exhorted  to 
establish  a  correspondence  between  the  several  colonies  and 
unitedly  refuse  supplies,  unless  a  redress  of  grievances  can 
be  obtained.* 

Such  a  war  did  not  take  place,  but  the  people  of  Boston 
found  an  opportunity  for  commencing  a  union  on  a  smaller 
scale,  which  probably  led  to  the  general  union  of  all  the  col- 
onies. People  had  remonstrated  firmly  against  the  Gover- 
nour's  receiving  his  salary  from  the  crown,  but  they  were 
answered  only  by  the  further  indignity  of  putting  the  judges 
on  the  same  footing.  As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  design 
reached  Boston,  a  petition  was  circulated  to  procure  a  town 
meeting,  to  consult  on  the  measures  required  at  this  critical 
juncture.  Several  meetings  were  held,  and  continued  by  ad- 
journments to  Nov.  2d,  when,  after  ineffectual  application  to 
the  Governour  for  information  on  this  important  subject,  and 
having  obtained  from  him  a  refusal  to  call  together  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  the  following  proceedings  took  place. 

'  Nov.  1772.     Proceedings  of  Town  Meeting. 

'  It  teas  then  moved  by  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  that  a  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  be  appointed,  to  consist  of  twenty-one 
persons — to  state  the  Right  of  these  Colonists,  and  of  this  Prov- 
ince in  particular,  as  men,  as  christians,  and  as  subjects  :  to 
communicate  and  publish  the  same  to  the  several  towns  in  this 
province  and  to  the  world,  as  the  sense  of  this  town,  with  the 
infringements  and  violations  thereof,  that  have  been,  or  from 
time  to  time  may  be  made.  Also  requesting  of  each  town  a  free 
communication  of  their  sentiments  on  this  subject  ;  and  the 
question  being  accordingly  put,  passed  in  the  affirmative, 
nem.  con. 

'■Also  voted,  that  James  Otis,  S.  Adams,  Joseph  Warren,  Dr. 
B.  Church,  Wm.  Dennie,  Wm.  Greenleaf  Jos.  Greenleaf 
Thomas  Young,  Wm.  Powell,  JYath.  Appleton,  Oliver  Wen- 
dell, John  Sweetser,  Josiah  Qidncy  jr.  John  Bradford,  Rich- 
ard Boynton,  Wm.  Mackay,  Nath.Barber,  Caleb  Davis,  Alex. 
Hill,  Wm.  Molineux,  and  Robert  Pierpont,  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  and  that  they 
be  desired  to  report  to  the  town  as  soon  as  may  be.'' 

The  committee  reported  on  the  19th  of  November  an  elab- 
orate declaration   of  rights,  and  a  lucid   statement  of  the 


*  June  13,  1772.    The  Governour  removed  the   Court   to    Boston,   on  the  opinion  of  the 
Council  that  he  could  do  it  consistently  with  his  instructions. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  289 

violations  of  them,  of  which  the  town  ordered  600  copies  to 
be  printed  and  distributed,  together  with  a  circular  letter  to 
every  town  in  the  province.  These  town  meetings  were  rath- 
er thinly  attended,  and  the  tories  improved  that  circumstance 
to  represent  the  whole  in  a  ludicrous  light.  But  their  smiles 
were  changed  to  sadness  when  they  found  that  almost  every 
town  adopted  the  measures  proposed  by  Boston  ;  and  the 
Governour  considered  it  so  serious  a  subject  as  to  be  worthy 
of  mention  to  the  general  court  in  his  message,  Jan.  6,  1773. 
His  condemnation  of  the  towns  drew  from  the  representatives 
a  justification,  in  which  they  were  emboldened  to  say  to  him, 
'  Notwithstanding  all  the  terrours  which  Your  Ex.  has  depict- 
ed to  us  as  the  effects  of  a  total  independence,  there  is  more  rea- 
son to  dread  the  consequences  of  absolute,  uncontrolled  pow- 
er, whether  of  a  nation  or  a  monarch,  than  those  of  a  total 
independence.' 

Following  up  the  plan  of  union,  the  town,  in  their  instruc- 
tions to  their  representatives,  chosen  in  May,  thus  express 
their  approbation  of  it  : 

'  We  recommend  to  your  serious  consideration,  whether  an 
application  to  the  English  colonies  on  this  continent,  corres- 
pondent to  the  plan  proposed  by  our  noble  patriotick  sister 
colony  of  Virginia  (which  in  our  opinion  is  a  wise  and  salu- 
tary proposal,)  will  not  secure  our  threatened  liberties,  and 
restore  that  mutual  harmony  and  confidence  between  the 
British  nation  and  the  English  colonies,  so  important  to  both, 
especially  the  former,  which,  if  rescinded  from  her  connexion 
with  this  continent,  must  eventually  fall  a  prey  to  her  nume- 
rous and  jealous  neighbours.' 

The  Virginia  proposal,  to  which  these  instructions  referred, 
was  contained  in  Resolves,  passed  by  the  House  of  Burges- 
ses in  that  colony,  on  the  twelfth  of  March  ;  and  in  accord- 
ance with  that,  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives, 
on  motion  of  Samuel  Adams,  appointed  a  committee  of  corres- 
pondence and  inquiry,  to  consist  of  15  members, '  whose 
business  it  should  be  to  obtain  the  most  early  and  authentick 
intelligence  of  all  such  acts  and  resolutions  of  the  British  par- 
liament, or  proceedings  of  administrations,  as  may  relate  to, 
or  affect  the  British  colonies  in  America  ;  and  to  keep  up  and 
maintain  a  correspondence  and  communication  with  our  sister 
colonies,  respecting  these  important  considerations :  and  the  re- 
sult of  such  their  proceedings,  from  time  to  time,  to  lay  before 
the  House.'  This  was  adopted  (1 10  to  4)  on  the  28th  of  May. 
On  the  2d  of  June,  (the  galleries  of  the  house  being  clear- 
ed,) a  disclosure  was  made  by  Mr.  Adams,  relative  to  the  dis- 
covery of  certain  letters  written  by  Messrs.  Hutchinson  and 
Oliver,  Paxton,  Auchmuty,  and  others,  in  which  it  appeared 
that  they  had  long  maintained  and  favoured  the  design  of  in- 
37 


290  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

troducing  arbitrary  power  into  this  country.*  In  conse- 
quence of  this  discovery,  the  House  adopted  resolutions  of 
censure,  which  concluded  with  a  petition  to  the  king  for  the 
removal  of  Hutchinson  and  Oliver  from  their  offices. 


CHAPTER  L. 

"  I  do  believe 
(Statist  though  I  am  none,  nor  like  to  be) 
That  this  will  prove  a  war,  and  you  shall  hear 
The  legions,  now  in  Gallia,  sooner  landed 
In  our  not-fearing  Britain,  than  have  tidings 
Of  any  penny  tribute  paid."  Shakspeare. 

Although  the  resolution  of  the  Americans  not  to  pay  the 
duty  on  tea,  imported  from  England,  continued  firm,  there 
was  still  a  considerable  quantity  of  the  article  consumed.  It 
could  be  obtained  in  Holland,  at  a  less  price  than  the  English 
merchants  demanded,  and  there  was  no  difficulty  in  smuggling 
it,  on  its  arrival  here.  Not  one  chest  in  500  had  been  seized 
for  the  three  years  past,  and  the  custom-house  officers  seemed 
unwilling  to  run  any  risk  to  make  a  seizure.  The  English 
East  India  Company  ascertained  by  very  accurate  informa- 
tion, that  the  annual  consumption  in  the  colonies  was  not  less 
than  3,264,000  pounds,  and  that  the  net  profit,  which  they 
might  reasonably  calculate  on  realizing  from  that  quantity, 
after  paying  the  duties  themselves,  and  deducting  incidental 
charges,  would  amount  to  £39,320  sterling.  They  were, 
therefore,  induced  to  apply  for  and  obtained  licence  (Aug.  20, 
1 773)  to  export  a  quantity  of  tea  to  America,  not  exceeding 
600,000  pounds  wt.  'discharged  from  the  payment  of  any  cus- 
tomsor  duties  whatsoever' in  the  kingdom,  on  the  understanding, 
that  they  were  to  pay  the  three  pence  per  pound  duty,  at  the 
custom-houses  in  America.! 

As  soon  as  this  determination  of  the  Company  was  known, 
a  number  of  American  merchants,  then  in  London,  petitioned 


*  These  letters  were  oYiginals,  which  had  been  obtained  in  England  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Dr.  Franklin,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  (News-Letter,  March,  1774,)  and  for- 
warded to  Mr.  Bowdoin. 

t  MS.  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  E.  I.  Co.  relative  to  the  exportation  of  tea  to 
America,  1773.    pp.  262. 

The  first  tea  that  paid  the  American  duty  arrived  in  1768  :  from  that  time  to  Nov.  1773, 
there  had  been  entered  at  Boston,  3092  chests.    A  chest  was  estimated  340  pounds  wt. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  291 

very  greedily  for  the  privilege  of  receiving  the  consignments 
or  furnishing  vessels  to  convey  the  tea.  Jona.  Clarke,  of  the 
firm  of  Richard  Clarke  and  Sons,  of  Boston,  obtained  the  fa- 
vour for  his  house,  and  the  friends  of  Benja.  Faneuil  jr.  and 
Joshua  Winslow,  and  those  of  Elisha  and  Th.  Hutchinson  jr. 
obtained  similar  privileges  for  them. 

All  these  facts  became  known  in  Boston  early  in  October, 
and  several  caucus  meetings  were  held,  '  in  various  parts  of 
the  town,  of  a  large  number  of  persons,  to  consult  and  con- 
clude on  some  method  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the  Com- 
pany's plan.'  About  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday, 
the  2d  of  November,  the  Messrs.  Clarkes  were  roused  out  of 
sleep  by  a  violent  knocking  at  their  door,  when  a  letter  was 
delivered  to  them,  purporting  to  be  from  the  freemen  of  this 
province,  requiring  them  to  appear  at  Liberty  Tree,  at  12 
o'clock  on  Wednesday,  to  make  a  publick  resignation  of  their 
commission  as  consignees  of  the  tea.  On  Tuesday,  there  was 
a  notification  to  the  freemen  of  this  and  the  other  towns,  to 
attend  to  witness  this  resignation.  On  Wednesday  the  bells 
began  to  ring  at  11,  and  continued  ringing  till  12  o'clock,  and 
the  town  crier  went  through  the  streets  summoning  the  peo- 
ple to  assemble.  About  500  collected  ;  (the  selectmen  were 
present  to  prevent  disorder  ;)  but  the  gentlecnen  consignees 
did  not  appear.  A  committee  was  therefore  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  Molineux,  Mr.  Wm.  Dennie,  Dr.  Warren,  Dr. 
Church,  Major  Barber,  Mr.  Gabriel  Johonnot,  Mr.  Proctor, 
and  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever,  to  expostulate  with  them  on  the 
high  insult  they  had  cast  upon  the  people,  and  demand  their 
signature  to  a  paper,  obligating  themselves  not  to  land  or  pay 
duty  on  any  tea  sent  by  the  E.  I.  C.  The  assembly  then 
accompanied  the  committee  to  the  store  of  Messrs.  C.  &  Sons, 
at  the  lower  end  of  King-street,  where  all  the  consignees  were 
assembled,  and  waited  for  their  answer  ;  which  not  being 
satisfactory,  some  little  indignity  was  offered  to  them,  but  the 
people  were  soon  persuaded  to  disperse,  without  doing  any 
essential  injury. 

The  next  day  a  town  meeting  was  notified,  to  be  held  on 
the  5th,  when  the  consignees  were  called  upon  by  the  Town 
to  resign  their  appointments  ;  but  they  still  refused  to  do  it, 
on  the  ground  '  that  they  knew  not  on  what  terms  the  tea 
would  be  sent  to  them,  nor  what  obligations  of  a  moral  or  pe- 
cuniary nature  they  might  be  under  to  fulfil  the  trust.'  The 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  6th,  when  these  answers  were 
voted  to  be  daringly  affrontive  to  the  town,  and  the  meeting 
immediately  dissolved.  On  the  17th,  Mr.  Jonathan  Clarke 
arrived,  and  at  night  the  town  was  disturbed  by  an  assem- 
blage around  his  father's  house,  in  School-street.  A  pistol 
was  fired  from  the  windows,  which  in    return   were   saluted 


292  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

with    stones,    but  no  personal  injury    appears  to    have   been 
done  to  any  one. 

The  consignees  threw  themselves  upon  the  Gov.  and  Coun- 
cil for  protection  ;  and,  after  having  the  subject  under  dis- 
cussion for  ten  days,  the  Council  could  only  advise  His  Ex. 
to  order  the  justices,  sheriff,  and  other  officers  of  the  law,  to 
exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  for  the  preservation  of  the  pub- 
lick  peace.  The  consignees  and  custom-house  officers  there- 
upon took  refuge  in  the  Castle. 

During  this  time  all  was  expectation.  At  length,  on  Sun- 
day, Nov.  28,  the  ship  Dartmouth,  Capt.  James  Hall,  arrived, 
with  112  chests  of  the  tea.  The  next  morning,  the  following 
notice  was  widely  circulated  : 

Friends,  Brethren,  Countrymen  ! 

That  worst  of  plagues,  the  detested  TEA,  shipped  for  this 
port  by  the  East  India  Company,  is  now  arrived  in  this  har- 
bour. The  hour  of  destruction,  or  manly  opposition  to  the 
machinations  of  Tyranny,  stares  you  in  the  face.  Every  friend 
to  his  country,  to  himself  and  to  posterity,  is  now  called  upon 
to  meet  at  Faneuil-Hall,  at  nine  o'clock,  this  day  (at  which 
time  the  bells  will  ring)  to  make  a  united  and  successful  re- 
sistance to  this  last,  worst,  and  most  destructive  measure  of 
administration . 

Boston,  Nov.  29,  1773. 

This  notification  brought  together  a  vast  concourse  of 
'  THE  PEOPLE  of  Boston  and  the  neighbouring  towns,'  at 
the  time  and  place  appointed.  Jona.  Williams  of  B.  was  cho- 
sen moderator.  The  first  step  of  this  meeting  was  to  confirm 
the  resolve  of  the  town,  that  the  tea  should  '  be  returned  to 
the  place  from  whence  it  came,  at  all  events.'  It  then  appear- 
ing, that  the  Hall  could  not  contain  the  people  assembled,  it 
was  voted  to  adjourn  to  the  Old  South  (leave  having  been 
obtained  for  this  purpose.)  There  it  was  further  resolved, 
that '  the  tea  should  not  only  be  sent  back,  but  no  duty  should 
be  paid  thereon.'  Then,  to  give  time  to  the  consignees  to 
prepare  a  communication  to  this  body,  the  meeting  was  ad- 
journed to  3  P.  M.  In  the  afternoon,  Capt.  Hall,  and  Mr. 
Francis  Rotch,  the  owner  of  the  Dartmouth,  were  convented 
and  charged  not  to  land  the  tea  at  their  peril.  A  watch  of 
25  persons,  under  direction  of  Capt.  Edw.  Proctor,  was  ap- 
pointed to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  tea  in  the  night.  Cen- 
sure was  passed  on  the  Governour  for  an  order  he  had  issued 
to  the  law  officers.  An  excuse  was  then  offered  by  Mr. 
Hancock,  in  the  name  of  a  friend  of  the  consignees,  for  their 
delay  ;  and, '  out  of  great  tenderness'  to  them,  the  meeting 
was  adjourned  to  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  293 

Tuesday,  Nov.  30th,  the  Body  met,  according  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  received  a  letter  from  the  consignees,  informing 
that  their  orders  had  arrived  from  the  E.  I.  C.  and  stating, 
that  it  was  entirely  out  of  their  power  to  send  the  tea  back, 
but  that  they  were  willing  to  store  it,  until  they  could  send  to 
England  for  further  advice.  Before  the  assembly  had  time 
to  express  their  indignation  at  this  communication,  Mr.  Sheriff 
Greenleaf  came  into  the  meeting,  and  '  begged  leave  to  read 
a  letter  he  bad  received  from  the  Governour,'  requiring  him 
to  read  a  proclamation  to  the  people  here  assembled  ;  which 
was  granted  and  done.  '  Whereupon  it  was  moved  and  the 
question  put,  whether  the  sheriff  should  be  permitted  to  read 
the  proclamation,  which  passed  in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con.1 
It  was  an  order  '  forthwith  to  disperse  and  surcease  all  fur- 
ther unlawful  proceedings,  at  their  utmost  peril.  And  the 
same  being  read  by  the  sheriff,  there  was  immediately  after 
a  loud  and  very  general  hiss.' — And  the  question  being  put, 
whether  the  assembly  would  disperse,  &c.  according  to  the 
Governour's  requirement,  it  passed  in  the  negative,  nem.  con. 
There  was  another  meeting  in  the  afternoon,  when,  after 
ineffectual  conference  with  Mr.  Copley,  the  friend  of  the  con- 
signees, Captain  Hall,  and  the  owners  and  factors  of  the 
Dartmouth  and  the  other  vessels  expected,  were  put  under 
solemn  injunction  not  to  land  a  particle  of  the  Tea.  Captain 
Ezekiel  Cheever  was  appointed  to  command  the  watch  this 
night,  and  provision  was  made  for  a  watch  '  the  following 
nights,  until  the  vessels  leave  the  harbour.^  If  the  watch  should 
be  molested  in  the  night,  the  bells  were  to  be  tolled,  or  rung 
if  any  thing  happened  in  the  day  time.  Six  persons  were  ap- 
pointed '  to  give  notice  to  the  country  towns,  when  they  shall 
be  required  so  to  do,  on  any  important  occasion.' 

Resolutions  of  gentle  censure  were  then  passed  against 
those  who  had  inadvertently  imported  tea  from  G.  B.  while 
subject  to  a  duty,  and  followed  by  another,  which  declared 
whoever  should  hereafter  import,  until  the  said  unrighteous 
act  shall  be  repealed,  an  enemy  to  this  country.  Then  it  was 
'  Voted,  that  it  is  the  determination  of  this  Body  to  carry  their 
votes  and  resolutions  into  execution,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives 
and  property.1  Provision  then  being  made  for  the  disposal 
of  ;he  expected  vessels,  and  thanks  from  those  of  the  Body 
belonging  to  Boston  to  their  brethren  from  the  neighbouring 
towns,  and  to  the  moderator  for  his  good  services,  the  meeting 
was  dissolved. 

On  the  first  of  December.  Capt.  James  Bruce,  in  the  ship 
Eleanor,  arrived  with  another  portion  of  the  tea.  On  the  3d 
he  was  ordered  to  attend  the  next  day,  on  a  committee  of  the 
people,  in  Faneuil-Hall,  where  he  was  commanded  by  Samuel 
Adams  and  Jonathan  Williams,  assembled  with  John  Rowe, 


294  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

John  Hancock,    Wm.  Phillips,   and   John  Pitts,  esqrs.  and  a 
great  number  of  others,  not  to  land  any  of  the  said  tea,    but 
to  proceed  to  Griffin's  vvhf.  and  there  discharge  the  rest  of  his 
cargo.     Capt.  Hez.  Coffin  arrived  in    the  brig  Beaver,  near 
the  same  time,  and  was  ordered  to  pursue  the   same  course. 
It  being  perceived,  that  Mr.  Rotch   rather  lingered  in  his 
preparations    to   return    the   Dartmouth  to  London,  and   the 
twenty  days  being  nearly  expired,   after  which  the  collector 
might  seize  the  ship  and  cargo,  Mr.  R.  was  summoned  before 
the  committee,  and  stated  to  them,  that  it  would  prove  his  en- 
tire ruin,  if  he  should  comply  with  the  resolutions  of  the   29th 
and  30th  of  November,  and  therefore  he  should  not  do  it.     A 
meeting  of  the   people  was  assembled    at   the  Old  South,  on 
Tuesday  p.  m.  Dec.  14th,  when  Mr.  R.  appeared,  and    was 
enjoined  forthwith  to  demand  a  clearance.     It  was  ascertain- 
ed, that  one  could  not  be  obtained  till  the  next  day,  and  there- 
fore the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Thursday  at  the  same  place. 
On  Thursday,  there  was  the  fullest  meeting  ever  known  : 
2000  men  at  least  were  present    from   the  country.     Samuel 
Phillips  Savage,  esq.  of  Weston,  was    appointed   moderator. 
Mr.  Rotch  reported,  that  the  collector  would  not  give   him  a 
clearance.     He  was  then  ordered  upon  his   peril  to  get    his 
ship  ready  for  sea  this  day,  enter  a  protest  immediately  against 
the  Custom  house,  and    proceed    directly   to   the  Governour, 
(then  at  Milton,  7  miles  distant,)  and  demand  a  pass   for  his 
ship  to  go  by  the  Castle.     An   adjournment  to  3  P.  M.  then 
took  place.     At  three  having  met,  they  waited  very  patiently 
till  five  o'clock,  when  finding  that  Mr.  Rotch  did  not  return, 
they  began  to  be  very  uneasy,  called  for  a  dissolution  of  the 
meeting,  and   finally  obtained  a   vote  for  it.     But  the    more 
judicious,  fearing  what  would  be  the   consequences,   begged 
for  a  re-consideration  of  that  vote,  '  for  this  reason,  that  they 
ought  to  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  send  the  tea  back, 
according  to  their  resolves.''     This  touched  the  pride  of  the  as- 
sembly, and  they  agreed  to  remain  together  one  hour. 

This  interval  was  improved  by  Josiah  Quincy  jr.  to  ap- 
prize his  fellow  citizens  of  the  importance  of  the  crisis,  and 
direct  their  attention  to  the  probable  results  of  this  contro- 
versy. He  succeeded  in  holding  them  in  attentive  silence, 
till  Mr.  Rotch's  return,  at  three  quarters  past  five  o'clock. 
The  answer  which  he  brought  from  the  governour  was,  '  that, 
for  the  honour  of  the  laws,  and  from  duty  towards  the  king,  he 
could  not  grant  the  permit,  until  the  vessel  was  regularly  clear- 
ed.' A  violent  commotion  immediately  ensued.  A  person  who 
was  in  the  gallery,  disguised  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians, 
shouted  at  this  juncture  the  cry  of  war  :  it  was  answered  by 
about  thirty  persons,  disguised  in  like  manner,  at  the  door. 
The  meeting  was  dissolved  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  The 
multitude    rushed    to    Griffin's   wharf.     The   disguised   In- 


UISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  295 

dians  went  on  board  the  ships  laden  with  the  tea.  In  less  than. 
2  hours,  240  chests  and  100  half  chests  were  staved  and  empti- 
ed into  the  dock.  The  affair  was  conducted  without  any  tu- 
mult :  no  damage  was  done  to  the  vessels  or  to  any  other 
effects  whatever. 

This  was  executed  in  the  presence  of  several  ships  of  war 
lying  in  the  harbour,  and  almost  under  the  guns  of  the  castle, 
where  there  was  a  large  body  of  troops  at  the  command  of 
the  commissioners.  We  are  left  to  conjecture  for  the  reasons 
why  no  opposition  was  made  to  this  bold  adventure.  The 
names  of  the  men,  who  dared  to  engage  in  it,  have  never  been 
made  publick.  Three  or  four  of  them  are  yet  living.  They 
had  the  honour  of  a  part  in  the  act,  which  brought  the  king 
and  parliament  to  a  decision  that  America  must  be  subdued 
by  force  of  arms. 


CHAPTER  LI. 

"  Well,  let  them  come, 
And  to  the  fire-eyed  maid  of  smoky  war 
All  hot  and  bleeding  we  will  offer  them." 

The  reception,  which  the  news  of  this  transaction  met  in  En- 
gland,may  readily  be  anticipated.  It  produced  an  instantaneous 
determination,  that  '  as  the  people  of  Boston  had  notoriously 
struck  the  first  blow,'  it  should  be  returned  with  the  full  force 
of  ministerial  vengeance.  '  Delenda  est  Carthago?  said  one 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  '  the  town  of  Boston 
ought  to  be  knocked  about  their  ears  and  destroyed.  1  am  of 
opinion,  you  never  will  meet  with  that  proper  obedience  to 
the  laws  of  this  country,  until  you  have  destroyed  that  nest 
of  locusts.' 

A  vast  majority  of  parliament  was  of  the  same  mind,  and  the 
king,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1774,  gave  his  assent  to  the  Boston 
Port  Bill ;  by  which  it  was  enacted,  that,  from  and  after  the 
first  of  June,  the  landing  and  discharging,  lading  or  shipping 
of  goods  at  the  town,  and  within  the  harbour  of  Boston,  should 
be  discontinued.  Information  of  the  passage  of  this  bill  was 
received  on  the  10th  of  May.  On  the  13th,  the  town  was 
called  together  upon  the  subject,  and  passed  the  following 
vote  : 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  town  that  if  the  other 
colonies  come  into  a  joint  resolution  to  stop  all  importations 
from  G.  B.  and  exportations  to  G.B.  the  same  will  prove  the 


296  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON, 

salvation  ofJV.  America  and  her  liberties.  On  the  other  hand,  if 
they  continue  their  exports  and  imports,  there  is  high  reason  to 
fear  that  fraud,  power,  and  the  most  odious  oppression  will  rise 
triumphant  over  right,  justice,  social  happiness,  and  freedom. 
And  ordered,  That  this  vote  be  transmitted  by  the  Moderator 
to  all  our  sister  colonies  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  this    town. 

It  happened  that  Gen.  Gage  arrived  here  on  the  same  day 
from  England,  with  the  commission  of  Governour  and  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  Province,  Mr.  Hutchinson  having  received 
permission,  at  his  own  request,  to  come  to  England.*  Gov. 
Gage  stopped  a  day  or  two  at  the  castle,  and  provision  was 
made  by  the  Council  that  he  should  be  received  with  military 
honours  '  at  the  end  of  Long-wharf,  and  thence  escorted  to 
the  State-house, t  and  a  publick  dinner  be  prepared  on  the  oc- 
casion.' H.  E.  met  the  two  houses  in  assembly  on  the  26th 
of  May,  and  in  his  speech  advised  them  to  despatch  the  busi- 
ness of  the  session  as  speedily  as  possible,  because  it  was 
made  his  duty  to  remove  the  court  to  Salem  on  the  first  of 
June.  When  that  day  arrived,  the  court  was  accordingly 
adjourned  ;  and  at  twelve  o'clock,  at  noon,  all  business  ceas- 
ed in  the  Custom-house  of  Boston,  and  the  port  was  shut 
against  every  vessel  that  offered  to  enter.  The  next  day,  an 
arrival  from  England  brought  the  intelligence,  that  the  bills 
were  before  the  parliament,  which  immediately  after  became 
acts,  whereby  the  charter  of  the  province  was  completely 
subverted,  and  the  administration  of  justice  to  criminal  offen- 
ders transferred  from  the  province  courts  to  courts  in  England. 

These  things  bore  heavily  upon  Massachusetts,  and  particu- 
larly upon  Boston,  but  her  citizens  did  not  sink  under  the 
weight  of  them.  Confiding  in  the  sympathy  of  their  country- 
men, already  loudly  expressed,  the  Boston  Committee  of  Cor- 
respondence framed  a  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  whereby 
all  that  signed  it  bound  themselves  from  henceforth  to  suspend 
all  commercial  intercourse  with  G.  Britain,  until  a  restoration 
of  their  charter  rights.  This  League  was  sent  to  every  part 
of  the  province  ;  and,  in  despite  of  a  proclamation  from  Gov. 
Gage,  denouncing  the  authors  of  it,  and  cautioning  all  persons 
to  beware  of  entering  into  this  traitorous  combination,  thou- 
sands put  their  names  to  it,  and  faithfully  complied  with  its 
obligations. 

The  air  of  Salem  was  no  less  propitious  to  Liberty  than  that 
of  Boston.     The  Court,  after  entering  a  protest  against  their 

*  The  Privy  Council  had  acted  on  the  petition  against  Hutchinson  and  Oliver,  and  pro- 
nounced a  judgment  of  acquittal. 

t  It  is  observable,  that  this  building  has  been  variously  called,  the  Town-house,  Court- 
house, State-house,  old  State  house,  or  old  Town-house.    It  belongs  now  to  the  city. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON.  297 

removal,  proceeded  to  make  arrangements  for  the  choice  of 
Delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress,  to  be  held  on  the  first 
of  September  at  Philadelphia.  On  the  17th  of  June,  they 
elected  for  this  purpose  Messrs.  Bowdoin,  Cusbing,  S.  and  J. 
Adams,  and  Robert  Treat  Paine.  Gov.  Gage  could  suffer 
this  spirit  to  progress  no  farther  :  on  that  day  he  dissolved 
the  court  by  proclamation. 

Boston  soon  began  to  suffer  under  the  operation  of  the 
Port  Bill  :  all  business  was  at  a  stand,  the  poor  were  thrown 
out  of  employment,  and  the  means  of  subsistence  became  en- 
hanced in  price,  from  the  rigour  with  which  the  Commission- 
ers executed  the  act.  The  town  could  hardly  have  support- 
ed the  affliction,  if  assistance  and  encouragement  had  not  been 
afforded  her  from  all  quarters.  Donations  of  all  sorts  of  pro- 
visions were  forwarded  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  and  employ- 
ment was  found  for   many  of  them    at   the  town's  expence. 

The  solemnity  of  these  sad  times  was  heightened  by  the 
occurrence  of  a  Fire,  on  Wednesday,  Aug.  10th.  It  broke 
out  between  10  and  11,  P.M.  in  a  large  brick  dwelling-house, 
belonging  to  Mr.  Milliken  and  Mrs.  Campbell,  in  Fish-street, 
five  or  six  doors  north  of  Mountfort's  corner,  at  the  foot  of 
North-square.  The  lower  part  of  the  house  was  in  flames  be- 
fore the  distressed  tenants  were  apprized  of  it.  Several  es- 
caped out  of  the  windows,  some  naked  and  much  burnt,  and 
five  others  perished  in  the  flames,  three  women  and  two  small 
children.  The  house  was  entirely  consumed  with  part  of  a 
bake-house.  The  inhabitants  speedily  assembling,  with  their 
usual  dexterous  management  happily  put  a  stop  to  the  further 
progress  of  the  flames.  Earl  Percy  politely  offered  the  ser- 
vices of  some  soldiers,  who  could  be  depended  upon,  but  was 
informed  that  the  regulations  of  the  town  rendered  their  as- 
sistance unnecessary. 

In  the  course  of  June,  July,  and  August,  troops  had  been 
constantly  arriving,  and  the  Governour  had  them  employed 
in  the  construction  of  barracks,  and  the  erection  of  fortifica- 
tions on  the  neck.  The  town's  people  would  afford  no  assist- 
ance in  these  works,  and  PI.  E.  was  obliged  to  send  to  other 
places  for  suitable  persons  to  perform  that  part  of  the  work, 
which  the  soldiers  did  not  understand.  On  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, 200  troops  in  13  boats  went  from  Long-wharf  up  the 
Mystick  river,  landed  at  Temple's  farm,  and  took  from  the 
powder-house  on  Quarry-hill,  212  half-barrels  of  powder,  be- 
longing to  the  province.  A  detachment  from  the  same  corps 
went  to  Cambridge  and  brought  off  two  field-pieces.  This 
excursion  caused  a  great  alarm,  and  by  the  next  day,  several 
thousand  people  were  assembled  in  arms,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cambridge.  Finding  no  armed  foe  to  combat,  they  laid  aside 
their  muskets,  and  went  in  a  body  to  the  houses  of  several 
38 


UISiORY    01?  BOSTON. 

individuals,  who  had  taken  part  on  the  side  of  government, 
and  compelled  them  to  recant  and  forswear  all  concern  in 
any  offices  under  the  law  for  altering  the  charter.  The  same 
thing  was  done  so  effectually  in  all  the  other  counties,  that 
Gov.  Gage  had  scarcely  a  mandamus  counsellor  left  to  give 
him  advice,  except  the  few  that  resided  in  Boston  under  his 
protection.  The  jurors  also  refused  to  serve  under  judges 
subservient  to  the  crown,  or  paid  by  salary  from  the  king, 
and  the  province  was  thus  left  almost  in  a  state  of  anarchy. 

The  new  Charter,  so  to  call  it,  made  it  unlawful  that  any 
town  meetings  should  be  held,  except  the  March  and  May 
meetings,  without  the  previous  approbation  of  the  Governour, 
and  H.  E.  had  informed  the  selectmen  of  Boston,  that  he 
should  insist  on  a  compliance  with  this  regulation.  Instead, 
therefore,  of  meeting  in  Boston,  the  people  of  the  county  of 
Suffolk  assembled  at  Dedham,  on  the  sixth  of  September, 
and  thence  adjourned  to  Milton,  where,  on  the  9th,  they  pass- 
ed a  set  of  spirited  resolutions,  which  were  forwarded  to  the 
Congress  then  sitting  in  Philadelphia.  Congress  unanimously 
approved  them  and  recommended  them  for  universal  adop- 
tion.* 

Gov.  Gage  was  pleased  to  issue  His  Majesty's  writs  for  con- 
vening a  General  Assembly  at  Salem,  on  the  fifth  of  October. 
But  finding  from  the  many  tumults  and  disorders  that  were 
taking  place,  and  '  the  instructions  given  by  the  town  of  Bos- 
ton and  some  other  towns  to  their  representatives,'  that  it 
would  be  highly  inexpedient  to  convene  a  general  court  at 
that  time,  he  prorogued  the  same  indefinitely  by  proclama- 
tion, on  the  28th  of  September.  The  representatives,  howev- 
er, appeared,  and  after  waiting  a  day  for  the  Governour's  no- 
tice, on  the  7th  of  October  they  resolved  themselves  into  a 
Provincial  Congress,  and  chose  a  chairman  and  clerk,  John 
Hancock  and  Benjamin  Lincoln,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at 
Concord,  on  the  1 1th  of  the  month.  Dr.  Warren,  Dr.Church, 
and  Mr.  Nath'l  Appleton,  together  with  the  representatives, 
composed  the  Boston  delegation  to  this  assembly. 

The  Provincial  Congress  continued  in  session  to  the  29th 
of  October,  during  which  time  they  proposed  to  the  people  to 
take  measures  for  an  efficient  organization  of  the  militia  and 
the  supply  of  the  town  stores  with  ammunition.  They  also 
appointed  a  treasurer  and  receiver- general,  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  Gray,  and  advised  all  persons  to  refrain  from  paying  the 
publick  monies  to  the  latter.     They  also  denounced  the  man- 


*  The  law  against  town-meetings  was  obviated  in  Boston  by  adjournment  of  the  May 
meeting  and  the  Boston  Port-bill  meeting  from  time  to  time.  In  this  way,  meetings  were" 
continually  held,  until  the  next  March  meeting  in  1T75, 


HISTOUY    OF    BOSTON.  299 

damus  counsellors  as  rebels  against  the  state.  For  these  and 
other  offensive  acts,  Gov.  Gage  denounced  the  congress  by- 
proclamation,  as  an  unlawful  assembly,  with  whose  recom- 
mendations it  would  be  dangerous  for  any  person  to  comply. 
This,  however,  did  not  deter  the  same  persons  from  meeting 
again  in  December,  and  pursuing  similar  measures  of  prepa- 
ration for  defence,  and  also  for  the  execution  of  the  plans  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  They  created  a  body,  termed  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  which  became  the  real  executive  of 
Massachusetts.  These  were  elected  anew  at  every  session, 
and  were  empowered  generally  to  watch  over  the  safety  of 
the  commonwealth,  and  advise  the  Congress  of  such  measures 
as  they  thought  beneficial,  and  especially  to  assemble  such 
of  the  militia  as  they  judged  necessary,  and  station  them 
where  they  deemed  it  most  conducive  to  the  defence  and  ser- 
vice of  the  colony. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  the  people  of  Boston  were  some- 
what enlivened  by  news  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  that  a  party 
of  the  people  of  that  province,  on  the  15th,  attacked  the  fort 
at  Newcastle,  scaled  the  walls,  disarmed  the  captain  and  his 
men,  took  possession  of  97  barrels  of  powder,  with  upwards 
of  60  stands  of  small  arms,  and  16  pieces  of  cannon,  and 
conveyed  them  to  a  safe  place  in  the  country.  The  acqui- 
sition made  a  partial  offset  to  the  loss  at  Cambridge.  Gov. 
Wentworth,  with  some  propriety,  proclaimed  the  act  to  be 
*  in  open  hostility  and  direct  oppugnation  of  His  Majesty's 
government.'  Affairs  were  evidently  approaching  to  a  crisis 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  Exertions  were  made  with  the  ut- 
most solicitude  to  procure  the  arms  and  ammunition,  recom- 
mended by  the  provincial  congress.  As  these  articles  were 
principally  held  in  Boston,  the  inhabitants  employed  all  their 
address  to  transport  them  to  places  of  safety  in  the  country,, 
by  deceiving  the  guard  stationed  upon  the  neck.  Cannon, 
balls,  and  other  implements  of  war,  were  carried  through  the 
fortification  gates,  in  carts  apparently  loaded  with  manure  ; 
powder  in  the  baskets  or  panniers  of  the  market  men  ;  and 
cartridges  were  concealed  in  candle  boxes. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1774,  Gov.  Gage  had  under  his 
command,  in  Boston,  eleven  regiments,  besides  four  compa- 
nies of  artillery.  Five  hundred  men  were  on  duty  every  day. 
The  behaviour  of  the  troops  was  generally  peaceable  :  some 
of  the  officers  were  gentlemen  of  the  first  standing  in  society, 
and  there  appears  hitherto  to  have  been  no  disposition  on 
their  part  to  countenance  any  licentiousness. 


300  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON- 


CHAPTER  LII. 

The  army  broken, 
And  but  the  backs  of  Britons  seen,  all  flying, 
Through  a  strait  lane,  the  enemy  full  hearted, 
Chickens  tbe  way  which  tbey  stooped  eagles. 

Skalctptart. 

The  soldiery  did  not  maintain  their  good  character  through 
the  winter.  Several  riotous  acts  were  committed,  in  which 
both  officers  and  men  bore  a  part,  in  tbe  course  of  January, 
1775.  On  the  23d  of  that  month,  a  detachment  of  above  a 
hundred  men  was  sent  by  water  to  Marshfield,  for  the  protec- 
tion of  some  of  His  Majesty's  loyal  subjects  there,  from  the 
fury  of  the  whigs.  They  found  nothing  to  do,  and  of  course 
met  with  no  resistance.  Another  detachment  sent  to  Salem 
was  received  with  less  complaisance.  Gen.  Gage  had  infor- 
mation that  some  brass  cannon  were  deposited  in  or  near  Sa- 
lem, and  H.  E.  sent  an  officer  to  discover  where  they  were 
lodged,  and  at  the  same  time  ordered  a  transport  to  take  on 
board  a  part  of  the  64th  regiment,  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Leslie,  from  the  Castle,  and  convey  them  to  Mar- 
blehead.  This  was  on  Sunday,  Feb.  20th.  They  landed  at 
M.  met  the  officers,  and  immediately  began  their  march  for 
Salem  ;  but  some  of  the  Marblehead  people,  suspecting  their 
object,  despatched  messengers  to  give  warning  at  S.  and  be- 
fore the  regiment  arrived  at  the  North  river,  which  it  was  ne- 
cessary for  them  to  cross,  the  Salem  people  had  possession  of 
the  bridge,  and  raised  tbe  draw.  Tbe  colonel  '  desired  it 
might  be  immediately  let  down  ;  but  they  refused,  saying  it 
was  a  private  road,  and  he  had  no  authority  to  demand  a 
passage  that  way.  On  this  he  determined  to  ferry  a  few  men 
over  in  a  gondola,'  of  which  craft  there  were  two  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  but  the  people  scuttled  both  of  them  before  he 
could  effect  his  intention.  -  Finally  the  colonel  said  be  must 
go  over,  and  if  the  drawbridge  was  let  down  so  that  he  might 
pass,  he  pledged  his  honour  he  would  pass  not  above  30  rods 
beyond  it,  and  then  immediately  return.  The  regiment  had 
now  been  on  the  bridge  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  every 
thing  being  secured,  the  people  directed  the  drawbridge  to  be 
let  down.  The  regiment  passed  over,  marched  a  few  rods, 
leaving  a  party  in  possession  of  the  bridge  till  they  returned, 
which  they  soon  did,  it  being  dark,  and  with  great  expedition 
went  back  again  to  Marblehead,  where  they  re-embarked  on 
board   the   transport,  between    eight   and    nine  o'clock,  and 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  301 

reached  Boston  the  next  day.'  The  result  of  this  expe- 
dition afforded  merriment  for  the  wits  of  the  day,  and  gave 
the  royalists  no  little  chagrin. 

The  soldiery  seem  to  have  wreaked  their  vengeance  for 
this  defeat,  by  tarring  and  feathering  Thomas  Ditson,  an  in- 
habitant of  Billerica,  who  had  come  to  town  (March  8th)  for 
the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  gun.  Supposing,  very  honestly, 
that  a  soldier  was  a  likely  person  to  inform  him  where  he 
could  most  advantageously  procure  the  article,  he  accosted 
one  in  the  street,  who  conducted  him  to  his  own  quarters,  and 
there,  having  beguiled  him  out  of  five  dollars  on  pretence  of 
selling  him  a  gun  and  equipments,  set  up  a  hue  and  cry,  that 
here  was  a  rebel  purchasing  king's  arms  of  a  king's  soldier, 
and  enticing  him  to  desert.  On  this,  Ditson  was  seized  by  a 
Serjeant  and  a  party,  and  hurried  to  the  barracks.  There 
they  tarred  and  feathered  him  from  head  to  foot,  and  escort- 
ed him,  with  their  colonel  (Nesbit)  at  their  head,  to  Liberty- 
tree,  where  they  let  him  go.  The  selectmen  of  Billerica  de- 
manded satisfaction  of  Gen.  Gage,  for  this  outrage,  giving  him 
the  assurance,  that,  if  the  intercourse  with  Boston  must  be 
thus  interrupted,  they  should  '  hereafter  use  a  different  style 
from  that  of  petition  and  complaint.'* 

The  Provincial  Congress  held  their  sessions  in  February, 
March,  and  April,  without  molestation.  They  appointed 
general  officers  for  the  command  of  the  minute-men  who  should 
be  detached,  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  appropriated  funds  for  the  purchase  of  warlike  stores. 
In  April,  intelligence  reached  the  congress,  that  Massachusetts 
had  been  declared  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  and  that  Gov.  Gage 
would  receive  orders  to  transport  certain  of  the  popular  lead- 
ers to  England  for  trial.  On  the  10th,  there  was  an  arrival 
which  brought  the  official  information  to  Governour  Gage. 
On  the  1 5th,  the  congress  adjourned,  having  during  their  ses- 
sion addressed  the  people  with  confidence,  and  urged  them 
'  effectually  to  oppose  and  resist  such  attempt  or  attempts  as 
shall  be  made'  for  carrying  into  execution  the  offensive  acts  of 
parliament. 

For  several  months  past  there  had  been  an  association  in 
Boston  of  upwards  of  thirty  persons,  chiefly  mechanicks,  who 
formed  themselves  into  a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  watch- 
ing the  movements  of  the  British.!     Towards  the  spring  (hey 


*  The  Act  for  tarring  and  feathering,  as  it  was  humorously  called,  had  often  been  held 
up,  in  terrorem,  against  obnoxious  tories,  but  never  absolutely  executed  upon  more  than 
one.  John  Malcom,  a  renowned  informer,  suffered  its  penalty  in  January,  1774,  and  was 
most  cruelly  abused. 

f  See  Col.  Revere's  letter,  Mass.  H.  C.  1.  t.  106. 


302  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

frequently  took  turns,  two  and  two,  to  watch  the  soldiers,  by 
patrolling  the  streets  all  night.  About  twelve  o'clock  on  Sat- 
urday night  (April  the  15th)  they  discovered  that  the  boats 
belonging  to  the  transports  were  all  launched  and  carried  un- 
der the  sterns  of  the  men-of-war.  The  grenadiers  and  light 
infantry  were  also  observed  to  be  all  taken  off  duty.  This 
movement  alarmed  Dr.  Warren,  who  despatched  Mr.  Revere 
to  Lexington  to  give  notice  of  the  same  to  S.  Adams  and 
Hancock,  who  had  been  persuaded  not  to  return  to  Boston, 
lest  they  should  be  exposed  to  seizure  by  the  Governour. 

On  Tuesday,  the  18th.  there  were  strong  indications  of  a 
speedy  movement.  The  light  infantry  and  grenadiers  were 
concentrated  at  the  Common.  About  half-past  10  at  night, 
Lieut.  Col.  Francis  Smith  of  the  10th  regt.  embarked  in  the 
boats,  with  about  800  men,  and  landed  at  Lechmere's  point, 
in  Cambridge.  Here  the  troops  received  a  day's  provision, 
and  began  their  march  about  12  o'clock. 

The  object  of  this  expedition  was  the  destruction  of  the 
stores  collected  at  Concord.  Profound  secrecy  had  been  ob- 
served in  the  camp,  and  it  was  supposed  nobody  in  Boston 
suspected  the  movements.  But  the  vigilance  of  Warren  had 
anticipated  the  slow  processes  of  regular  troops.  He  had 
again  despatched  Revere  and  another  messenger,  in  different 
directions,  to  give  the  alarm  to  Hancock  and  Adams,  and  they 
forwarded  the  intelligence  to  Concord. 

Lexington  is  about  12  miles  N.  W.  from  Boston,  and  Con- 
cord six  miles  farther  in  the  same  direction.  The  road, 
which  the  British  took,  lay  through  West  Cambridge.  The 
moon,  which  rose  upon  them  as  they  disembarked,  shone 
clearly,  and  their  progress  was  undisturbed  :  their  own  drums 
were  mute,and  all  nature  was  quiet  around  them.  In  this  solemn 
silence  they  stole  their  march,  and  arrived  about  dawn  of  day 
at  Lexington.  But  there  the  stillness  of  the  night  was  chang- 
ed. The  drum  was  heard  beating  to  arms,  and  they  soon 
came  in  sight  of  an  American  company,  paraded  in  posture 
of  defiance. 

The  British  troops  were  halted,  at  about  100  rods  distance, 
ordered  to  charge  their  guns,  double  their  ranks,  and  then  to 
march  at  double  quick  time.  The  Lexington  company,  pre- 
viously ordered  to  load  with  ball,  were  now  commanded  to 
stand  their  ground  and  no  man  leave  his  post  without  orders, 
and  not  to  fire  unless  they  were  attacked.  There  were  about 
sixty  of  these  brave  men,  who  presented  their  bodies  a  living 
sacrifice  to  the  cause  of  their  country.  In  the  face  of  800 
troops,  then  supposed  to  be  1500,  they  maintained  their  posi- 
tion in  two  ranks,  heard  the  order  from  the  British  Major  to 
disperse,  and  disobeyed  it  :  heard  his  command  to  fire,  re- 
ceived the  first  discharge  unhurt,  and  maintained  their  ground 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTOJY. 


303 


till  another  discharge  from  the  enemy  proved  fatal  to  several 
of  their  number.  Upon  this,  part  of  the  company,  if  not  all, 
returned  the  fire,  and  then  dispersed  in  various  directions. 
The  British  drew  up  on  the  common,  fired  a  volley,  and  gave 
three  huzzas  in  token  of  victory  ;  and  after  a  very  short  halt, 
marched  for  Concord,  where  they  arrived  without  further 
opposition. 

LEXINGTON    MONUMENT.  * 


They  reached  Concord  about  nine  o'clock.  The  main 
body  was  immediately  employed  in  searching  for  powder  and 
other  warlike  stores  :  a  detachment  was  sent  forward  to  get 
command  of  a  bridge  north  of  the  town.  The  alarm  had 
reached  Concord  early  in  the  morning,  and  many  of  the  mi- 
litia had  assembled,  but  not  having  heard  of  the  events  at  Lex- 
ington, they  made  no  attack  on  the  troops,  lest  they  should  be 
the  aggressors.  They  however  approached  the  party  stationed 
at  the  bridge,  and  whpn  they  had  advanced  sufficiently  near, 
the  British  opened  a  fire  upon  them,  by  which  several  were 
killed  and  wounded.  The  Americans  returned  the  fire,  and 
several  of  the  king's  officers  and  troops  fell.  The  detachment 
soon   after  joined  the  main   body,  and  all    prepared,   having 


Erected  in  1799,  in  memory  of  those  who  fell  there  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775. 


304  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

partially  effected  their  object  in  the  destruction  of  some  stores 
and  provisions,  to  return  to  Boston,  about  noon. 

But '  in  place  of  the  high  and  insulting  confidence  with 
which  the  troops  had  wheeled  into  the  streets  of  Concord, 
they  left  them,  when  the  order  was  given  to  march,  with  fa- 
ces bent  anxiously  on  the  surrounding  heights,  and  with  looks 
that  bespoke  a  consciousness  of  the  dangers  that  were  likely 
to  beset  the  long  road  which  lay  before  them.  Their  appre- 
hensions were  not  groundless.  The  troops  had  hardly  com- 
menced their  march  before  a  volley  was  fired  upon  them  from 
the  protection  of  a  barn,  and  as  they  advanced,  volley  suc- 
ceeded volley,  and  musket  answered  musket  from  behind 
every  cover  that  offered  to  their  assailants.  At  first  these 
desultory  and  feeble  attacks  were  but  little  regarded  ;  a  brisk 
charge,  and  a  smart  fire  of  a  few  moments  never  failing  to 
disperse  their  enemies,  when  the  troops  again  proceeded  for 
a  short  distance  unmolested.  But  the  alarm  of  the  preced- 
ing night  had  gathered  the  people  over  an  immense  extent  of 
country;  and,  having  waited  for  information,  those  nearest  to 
the  scene  of  action  were  already  pressing  forward  to  the  as- 
sistance of  their  friends.  There  was  but  little  order,  and  no 
concert  among  the  Americans  ;  but  each  party,  as  it  arrived, 
pushed  into  the  fray,  hanging  on  the  skirts  of  their  enemies, 
or  making  spirited  though  ineffectual  efforts  to  stop  their 
progress.  On  either  side  of  the  highway,  along  the  skirts 
of  every  wood  or  orchard,  in  the  open  fields  and  from  every 
house,  or  barn,  or  cover  in  sight,  the  flash  of  fire  arms  was  to 
be  seen,  while  the  shouts  of  the  British  grew  at  each  instant 
feebler  and  less  inspirited.'*  The  utmost  confusion  seized 
their  ranks  :  they  began  to  run  rather  than  to  retreat  in  or- 
der :  the  officers  attempted  to  stop  the  men  and  form  them, 
but  to  no  purpose;  the  confusion  increased  :  at  last, after  they 
had  passed  Lexington  village,  the  officers  gained  the  front, 
presented  their  bayonets,  and  told  the  men  if  they  advanced 
they  should  die.  Upon  this  they  began  to  form,  under  a  very 
heavy  fire.  But  they  must,  no  doubt,  have  soon  surrender- 
ed, had  they  not  been  met,  about  a  mile  from  the  meeting- 
house, by  a  reinforcement  under  Brig.  Gen.  Lord  Percy,  of  a 
thousand  men,  with  two  field  pieces.  The  Americans  gave 
way  as  the  two  detachments  joined,  and  the  artillery  being 
opened  upon  them,  kept  them  at  some  distance,  while  the 
British  halted  about  half  an  hour  to  rest.  But  the  instant  the 
guns  were  limbered  and  the  files  had  once  more  opened  for 
room,  the  attacks  were  renewed  from  every  quarter  with 
redoubled  fury.  At  every  step  of  the  retreating  army,  they 
met   a  new  cluster  of  enemies,  that  constantly  annoyed  them 

*  Lionel  Liucoln. 


HISTORY    OF    HOSTON.  ZQ5 

till  they  reached  Charlestown  neck,  at  about  seven  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  Lord  Percy  took  his  station  at  Bunker-hill  5  the 
men-of-war  boats  were  employed  first  in  getting  over  the 
wounded,  and  afterward  the  rest  of  the  troops.  Fresh  sol- 
diers were  sent  to  stand  guard  during  the  night,  and  the  next 
day  all  were  removed  to  Boston.  The  loss  of  the  British  was 
73  killed,  26  missing,  besides  174  wounded.  The  American 
loss  was  49  killed,  3  missing,  and  36  wounded. 

The  news  of  this  transaction  spread  with  the  rapidity  of 
the  wind,  and  in  the  course  of  two  days  so  great  a  number  of 
the  provincial  militia  was  collected  in  the  vicinity,  that  the 
British  officers  acknowledged  themselves  '  fairly  blocked  up 
in  Boston.5 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

"  Advance  our  waving  colours  ou  the  walls, 
Rescued  is  Orleans  from  the  English  wolves." 

This  state  of'  things  rendering  the  situation  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Boston  very  undesirable,  a  town-meeting  was  held  on 
Saturday,  the  22d  of  April,  and  a  conference  had  with  Gov. 
Gage,  in  which  he  proposed  to  permit  such  of  the  citizens  as 
would  surrender  their  arms,  to  depart  from  the  town  with 
their  families  and  effects.  This  proposition  was  considered 
and  adopted  by  the  town,  at  an  adjournment  on  the  Sabbath 
day  following,  and  many  people  immediately  deposited  their 
arms  in  the  place  appointed.  But  the  Governour  perceiving 
that,  by  letting  the  people  go,  he  deprived  himself  of  a  secu- 
rity from  destruction,  which  their  presence  might  prevent, 
found  a  pretext  to  detain  the  greatest  part  of  them,  and  com- 
pelled the  few,  who  were  permitted  to  retire,  to  leave  their 
most  valuable  effects  behind.  All  intercourse  between  town 
and  country  ceased,  and  the  inhabitants  and  the  troops  were 
reduced  to  the  necessity  of  subsisting  on  the  provisions  that 
happened  to  have  been  laid  up  in  store.*  On  the  5th  of  May, 
the  Provincial  Congress  resolved,  that  Gen.  Gage  had  by  the 
late  transactions  and  many  others  '  utterly  disqualified  him- 

*  "  1775,  May  17th.  On  the  evening  of  this  day,  a  store  on  the  south  side  of  the  Town- 
dock,  occupied  as  a  barrack  by  British  troops,  took  fire  by  the  bursting  of  some  cartridges, 
imprudently  handled  by  the  soldiers.  About  thirty  warehouses  and  buildings  were  destroy- 
ed, with  great  part  of  the  effects,  contained  in  them,  some  of  which  were  donations  to  the 
town,  for  relief  of  the  inhabitants,  suffering  under  the  oppressive  Port  Bill." — Shaw. 

39 


306  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

self  from  serving  the  colony  as  governour,  or  in  any  other 
capacity,  and  that  therefore  no  obedience  was  in  future  due  to 
him.' 

Towards  the  end  of  May,  considerable  reinforcements  ar- 
rived at  Boston  from  England,  and  on  the  25th,  Generals 
Howe,  Clinton,  and  Burgoyne  arrived.  General  Gage  pre- 
pared to  act  with  more  decision.  His  troops  had  had  sev- 
eral skirmishes  on  the  islands  in  the  harbour,  and  the  provin- 
cials had  in  every  case  been  victorious.  The  latter  were  also 
animated  with  news  from  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  that 
the  American  parties,  which  had  attacked  those  posts,  had 
been  completely  successful.  The  British  army  burned  for 
what  they  termed  a  fair  trial  of  their  prowess  against  the 
rebels  in  open  fight  :  the  officers  demanded  more  '  elbow 
room.'  Gen.  Gage  renewed  the  campaign  on  his  side  by  is- 
suing a  proclamation  on  the  12th  of  June,  in  which  he  offered 
pardon  to  all  persons,  except  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock, 
and  proclaimed  martial  law  throughout  the  province.  The 
congress  was  about  replying  by  a  counter  declaration,  but 
were  diverted  from  that  design  by  a  movement  of  more  im- 
portance. 

The  American  army  consisted  of  about  15,000  men,  under 
Gen.  Artemas  Ward.  Information  found  its  way  to  the  com- 
manders, that  the  British  contemplated  posting  themselves  on 
Bunker's  Hill,  and  it  was  immediately  determined  to  make  an 
effort  to  defeat  their  design.  '  Accordingly  on  the  16th  of 
June,  orders  were  issued,  that  a  detachment  of  1000  men 
should  that  evening  march  toCharlestown,and  entrench  upon 
that  Hill.  Just  before  9  o'clock  they  left  Cambridge,  and 
proceeded  to  Breed's  Hill,  situated  on  the  further  part  of  the 
peninsula  next  to  Boston,  (for  by  some  mistake  this  hill  was 
marked  out  for  the  entrenchment  instead  of  the  other.)  Many 
things  being  necessary  to  be  done  preparatory  to  the  en- 
trenchments being  thrown  up,  which  could  not  be  done  before, 
lest  the  enemy  should  discover  and  defeat  the  design,  it  was 
nearly  twelve  o'clock  before  the  works  were  entered  upon. 
They  were  then  carried  on  with  the  utmost  diligence  .and 
alacrity  ;  so  that  by  the  dawn  of  the  day  they  had  thrown 
up  a  small  redoubt,  about  eight  rods  square.  At  this  time  a 
heavy  fire  began  from  the  enemy's  ships,  a  number  of  float- 
ing batteries,  and  from  a  fortification  of  the  enemy's  upon 
Copp's  Hill  in  Boston,  directly  opposite  to  our  little  redoubt. 
An  incessant  shower  of  shot  and  bombs  was  rained  by  these 
upon  our  works.  The  Provincials  continued  to  labour  inde- 
fatigably  till  they  had  thrown  up  a  small  breast- work,  extend- 
ing from  the  east  side  of  the  redoubt  to  the  bottom  of  the 
Hill,  but  were  prevented  completing  it  by  the  intolerable  fire 
of  the  enemy. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  307 

'  Between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  a  number  of  boats  and 
barges,  filled  with  the  regular  troops  from  Boston,  were  ob- 
served approaching  towards  Charlestown  ;  these  troops  land- 
ed at  a  place  called  Moreton's  Point,  situated  a  little  to  the 
eastward  of  our  works.  This  brigade  formed  upon  their 
landing,  and  stood  thus  formed  till  a  second  detachment  arri- 
ved from  Boston  to  join  them  ;  having  sent  out  large  flank 
guards,  they  began  a  very  slow  march  towards  our  lines.  At 
this  instant  smoke  and  flames  were  seen  to  arise  from  the 
town  of  Charlestown,  which  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  enemy. 

'  The  Provincials  within  their  entrenchments  impatiently 
waited  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  reserved  their  fire  till 
they  came  within  10  or  12  rods,  and  then  began  a  furious 
discharge  of  small  arms.  This  fire  arrested  the  enemy,  which 
they  for  some  time  returned,  without  advancing  a  step,  and 
then  retreated  in  disorder  and  with  great  precipitation  to  the 
place  of  landing,  and  some  of  them  sought  refuge  even  within 
their  boats.  Here  the  officers  were  observed,  by  the  specta- 
tors on  the  opposite  shore,  to  run  down  to  them,  using  the 
most  passionate  gestures,  and  pushing  the  men  forward  with 
their  swords.  At  length  they  were  rallied,  and  marched  up 
with  apparent  reluctance  towards  the  entrenchment  ;  the 
Americans  again  reserved  their  fire  until  the  enemy  came 
within  five  or  six  rods,  and  a  second  time  put  the  Regulars  to 
flight,  who  ran  in  great  confusion  towards  their  boats.  Simi- 
lar and  superior  exertions  were  now  necessarily  made  by  the 
officers,  which,  notwithstanding  the  men  discovered  an  almost 
insuperable  reluctance  to  fighting  in  this  cause,  were  again 
successful.  They  formed  once  more,  and  having  brought 
some  cannon  to  bear  in  such  a  manner  as  to  rake  the  inside 
of  the  breast-work  from  one  end  of  it  to  the  other,  the  Pro- 
vincials retreated  within  their  little  fort.  The  ministerial  ar- 
my now  made  a  decisive  effort.  The  fire  from  the  ships  and 
beftteries,  as  well  as  from  the  cannon  in  the  front  of  their 
army,  was  redoubled.  The  officers  in  the  rear  of  their  army 
were  observed  to  goad  forward  the  men  with  renewed  exer- 
tions, and  they  attacked  the  redoubt  on  three  sides  at  once. 
The  breast-work  on  the  outside  of  the  fort  was  abandoned  ; 
the  ammunition  of  the  Provincials  was  expended,  and  few  of 
their  arms  were  fixed  with  bayonets.  Can  it  then  be  won- 
dered that  the  word  was  given  by  the  commander  of  the  par- 
ty to  retreat  ?  But  this  he  delayed  till  the  redoubt  was  half 
filled  with  Regulars,  and  the  Provincials  had  kept  the  enemy 
at  bay  some  time,  confronting  them  with  the  butt  ends  of 
their  muskets. 

'  The  retreat  of  this  little  handful  of  brave  men  would  have 
been  effectually  cut  off,  had  it  not  happened  that  the  flanking 
pnrty    of   the    enemy,     which     was    to    have    come    upon 


308  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

the  back  of  the  redoubt,  was  checked  by  a  party  of  the 
Provincials,  who  fought  with  the  utmost  bravery,  and  kept 
them  from  advancing  farther  than  the  beach  ;  the  engage- 
ment of  these  two  parties  was  kept  up  with  the  utmost  vigour; 
and  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  this  party  of  the  ministerial 
troops  evidenced  a  courage  worthy  of  a  better  cause  ;  all 
their  efforts,  however,  were  insufficient  to  compel  the  Provin- 
cials to  retreat  till  their  main  body  had  left  the  Hill;  perceiving 
this  was  done,  they  then  gave  ground,  but  with  more  regulari- 
ty than  could  be  expected  of  troops  who  had  no  longer  been 
under  discipline,  and  many  of  whom  never  before  saw  an  en- 
gagement. In  this  retreat,  the  Americans  had  to  pass  over 
the  Neck,  which  joins  the  Peninsula  of  Charlestown  to  the 
main  land.  This  Neck  was  commanded  by  the  Glasgow 
man-of-war,  and  two  floating  batteries,  placed  in  such  a  man- 
ner, as  that  their  shot  raked  every  part  of  it.  The  incessant 
fire  kept  up  across  this  Neck  had,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
engagement,  prevented  any  considerable  reinforcements  from 
getting  to  the  Provincials  on  the  Hill,  and  it  was  feared  it 
would  cut  off  their  retreat,  but  they  retired  over  it  with  little 
or  no  loss.  With  a  ridiculous  parade  of  triumph,  the  minis- 
terial generals  again  took  possession  of  the  Hill  which  had 
served  them  as  a  retreat  in  flight  from  the  battle  of  Concord. 

'  The  loss  of  the  New-England  army  amounted,  according 
to  an  exact  return,  to  145  killed  and  missing,  and  304  woun- 
ded ;  30  of  the  first  were  wounded  and  taken  prisoners  by 
the  enemy.  Among  the  dead  was  Maj.  Gen.  Joseph  Warren, 
a  man  whose  memory  will  be  endeared  to  his  countrymen, 
and  to  the  worthy  in  every  part  and  age  of  the  world,  so  long 
as  virtue  and  valour  shall  be  esteemed  among  mankind.*  The 
heroick  Col.  Gardner,  of  Cambridge,  has  since  died  of  his 
wounds  ;  and  the  brave  Lieut.  Col.  Parker,  of  Chelmsford, 
who  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  perished  in  Boston  gaol.7 

The  British  loss  was  1054,  according  to  the  official  return. 
Of  these  226  were  killed,  including  19  officers,  and  828  woun- 
ded, including  70  officers. 

The  destruction  of  Charlestown  was  regarded  by  the  A- 
mericans  as  an  act  of  wanton  barbarity  :  the  British  justified 
it,  on  account  of  the  annoyance  their  troops  received  from  the 
Provincials  stationed  in  some  of  the  houses.  Many  of  the 
buildings  were  valuable.  '  The  meeting-house,  a  court-house, 
prison,   county  house,  two  school-houses,  and  a  work-house, 


*  Gen.  Warren  was  Grand  Master  of  Free-Masons  for  North  America,  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Near  the  spot  on  which  he  fell,  the  members  of  that  fraternity  in  Charlestown  erec- 
ted a  monument,  which  they  dedicated  to  his  memory  (Dec.  2,  1794).  It  was  a  Tuscan 
pillar,  18  feet  high,  on  a  brick  foundation  10  feet  from  the  ground,   eight   feet  square,  and 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 


309 


with  upwards  of  380  other  buildings  were  totally  consumed, 
together  with  the  furniture  and  effects  of  the  occupants,  be- 
sides much  property  that  belonged  to  the  unhappy  sufferers 
in  Boston,  who  had  removed  their  goods  into  Charlestovvn.' 

The  main  body  of  the  British  troops  was  stationed,  after 
the  battle,  in  Charlestown,  upon  Bunker's  Hill  :  the  other  di- 
vision of  it  was  deeply  intrenched  and  strongly  fortified  on 

enclosed  by  posts.  On  the  top  was  a  gilt  urn,  with  the  letters  '  J.  W.  aged  35,'  entwined  in 
masonick  emblems.  The  subjoined  view  was  taken  a  few  weeks  before  the  monument  was 
destroyed.    On  the  south  side  of  the  pedestal  was  the  following  inscription  : 


'  Erected,  A.  D.  MDCGXCIV.  by  King  Solomon's  Lodge  of  Free-Masons,  constituted  in 
Charlestown,  1783,  in  memory  of  Major-General  JOSEPH  WARREN,  and  his  Associates, 
who  were  slain  on  this  memorable  spot,  June  17,  1775. 

'  None  but  they  who  set  a  just  value  upon  the  blessings  of  Liberty  are  worthy  to  enjoy  her. 
In  vain  we  toiled  ;  in  vain  we  fought ;  we  bled  in  vain  ;  if  you,  our  offspring,  want  valour  to 
repel  the  assaults  of  her  invaders.' 

<  Charlestown  settled  1628.      Burnt    1775.      Rebuilt  1776. 
'  The  encl  osed  land  was  given  by  the  Hon.  James  Russell.' 


310  HISTORY    OF   BOSTOiV. 

Boston  Neck,  leading  to  Roxbury.  The  American  army  lay 
on  both  sides  of  Charles  river.  Its  right  occupied  the  high 
ground  about  Roxbury,  whence  it  extended  towards  Dorches- 
ter, and  its  left  was  covered  by  Mystick  river,  a  space  of  at 
least  twelve  miles.  Every  pass  was  effectual^  guarded,  and 
Boston  was  absolutely  in  a  state  of  siege.*  No  provision  of 
any  kind  for  man  or  beast  was  allowed  to  enter  :  the  troops 
and  inhabitants  were  together  reduced  to  great  necessities  : 
succours  which  had  been  ordered  from  other  parts  had  been 
intercepted  or  lost  at  sea,  and  the  small-pox  broke  out  among 
the  soldiers  and  spread  among  the  people. 

General  Washington  had  taken  command  of  the  American 
forces  July  2d,  and  Gen.  Gage  had  resigned  the  British  to 
Gen.  Howe,  and  sailed  for  England  about  the  first  of  October. 
As  the  winter  approached,  the  scarcity  of  fuel  began  to  be 
sensibly  felt.  The  Old  North  meeting-house  and  above  100 
other  large  wooden  buildings  were  taken  down  and  distribu- 
ted for  firewood.  Some  of  the  wharves  also  at  the  north  end 
were  broken  up  for  the  same  purpose.  The  British  officers 
found  little  to  amuse  them,  except  the  occasional  performance 
of  a  farce,  in  Faneuil  Hall,  where  they  themselves  were  the 
actors.  Their  soldiers  had  enjoyed  a  single  day  of  mirth, 
in  which  they  were  employed  in  felling  Liberty  Tree  and 
cutting  it  up  for  fuel.  A  squadron  of  cavalry,  attached  to  the 
army,  occasionally  exhibited  feats  of  horsemanship  in  that 
sanctuary  of  freedom,  the  Old  South  church,  which  was 
transformed  into  a  riding-school.  Hollis-street,  Brattle-street, 
the  West,  and  the  First  Baptist  meeting-houses  were  occupied 
as  hospitals  or  barracks  for  the  troops. 

Both  parties  were  dissatisfied  with  so  inactive  a  service. 
Washington  '  had  been  some  time  contemplating  an  attack 
on  Boston,  as  soon  as  he  could  be  justified  in  attempting  the 
execution  of  so  bold  a  design.  About  the  middle  of  February, 
1776,1  the  severe  cold  setting  in,  and  the  ice  becoming  suf- 
ficiently firm  to  bear  the  troops,  he  was  disposed  to  make  the 
attempt ;  but  a  council  of  war,  summoned  on  the  occasion, 
being  almost  unanimous  against  the  measure,  he  reluctantly 
abandoned  it. 

'  The  effective  regular  force  of  the  Americans  now  amount- 
ed to  upwards  of  fourteen  thousand  men  ;  in  addition  to  which 
the  commander  in  chief  called  out  about  six  thousand  of  the 
militia  of  Massachusetts.  With  these  troops  he  determined 
to  take  possession  of  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  whence  it 
would  be  in  his  power  greatly  to  annoy  the  ships  in  the  har- 
bour and  the  soldiers  in  the  town.     By  taking   this    position, 

*  See  an  account  of  the  Forts  around  Boston,  in  Silliman's  Journal,  riii.  838. 
f  Holmes'  Annals. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  311 

from  which  the  enemy  would  inevitably  attempt  to  drive  him, 
he  expected  to  bring  on  a  general  action,  during  which  he 
intended  to  cross  over  from  Cambridge  side  with  four  thou- 
sand chosen  men,  and  attack  the  town  of  Boston.  To  con- 
ceal his  design,  and  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  garrison,  a 
heavy  bombardment  of  the  town  and  lines  of  the  enemy  was 
begun  on  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  March,  and  repeated  the 
two  succeeding  nights.  On  the  night  of  the  4th,  immediately 
after  the  firing  began,  a  considerable  detachment,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Thomas,  passing  from  Roxbury,  took  silent 
possession  of  Dorchester  heights.  The  ground  was  almost 
impenetrably  hard,  but  the  night  was  mild,  and  by  labouring 
with  great  diligence, their  works  were  so  far  advanced  by  morn- 
ing, as  to  cover  them  in  a  great  measure  from  the  shot  of  the 
enemy.  When  the  British  after  day  break  discovered  these 
works,  which  were  magnified  to  the  view  by  a  hazy  atmos- 
phere, nothing  could  exceed  their  astonishment.  No  alterna- 
tive now  remained,  but  to  abandon  the  town,  or  to  dislodge 
the  provincials.  General  Howe,  with  his  usual  spirit,  chose 
the  latter  part  of  the  alternative,  and  took  measures  for  the 
embarkation  on  that  very  evening  of  five  regiments  with  the 
light  infantry  and  grenadiers,  on  the  important  but  most  haz- 
ardous service.  The  transports  fell  down  in  the  evening  to- 
wards the  castle,  with  the  troops,  amounting  to  about  two 
thousand  men  ;  but  a  tremendous  storm  at  night  rendered 
the  execution  of  the  design  absolutely  impracticable.  A 
council  of  war  was  called  the  next  morning,  and  agreed  to 
evacuate  the  town  as  soon  as  possible.  A  fortnight  elapsed 
before  that  measure  was  effected.  Meanwhile  the  Ameri- 
cans strengthened  and  extended  their  works  ;  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  seventeenth  of  March  the  British  discovered 
a  breast  work,  that  had  been  thrown  up  in  the  night  at  Nook's 
Hill,  on  Dorchester  peninsula,  which  perfectly  commanded 
Boston  Neck,  and  the  south  part  of  the  town.  Delay  was  no 
longer  safe.  By  four  in  the  morning,  the  king's  troops,  with 
those  Americans,  who  were  attached  to  the  royal  cause,  be- 
gan to  embark  ;  and  before  ten  all  of  them  were  under  sail. 
As  the  rear  embarked,  general  Washington  marched  trium- 
phantly into  Boston,  where  he  was  joyfully  received,  as  a  de- 
liverer.'* 


*  '  The  British  fleet,  after  a  detention  of  nine  days  in  Nantasket  roads,  set  sail  for  Halifax. 
The  number  of  the  British,  who  evacuated  Boston,  exclusive  of  the  staff,  was  7575  ;  and  the 
addition  of  the  marines  and  sailors  is  supposed  to  have  rendered  Howe  10,000  strong.  They 
left  their  barracks  standing,  and  a  number  of  pieces  of  cannon  spiked,  4  large  iron  sea  mor- 
tars, and  stores,  to  the  value  of  30,000?.  They  demolished  the  castle,  and  knocked  off  the 
trunnions  of  the  cannon.' 

A  detachment  of  the  fleet  remained  to  execute  the  Port  Bill,  by  blockading  the  harbour, 
until  the  14th  of  June,  when  a  strong  force  went  down  from  Boston,  and  made  so  effectual 


312  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON, 


CHAPTER  L1V. 

"  The  laws,  the  rights, 
The  generous  plan  of  power  delivered  clown 
From  age  to  age,  by  your  renown'd  forefathers, 
So  dearly  bought,  the  price  of  so  much  blood." 

The  inhabitants  of  Boston  speedily  returned  to  their  homes, 
and  on  the  29th  of  March  they  held  a  regular  meeting  for 
the  choice  of  town  officers,  in  the  Old  Brick  church.*  May 
meeting  for  the  choice  of  representatives  was  held  on  the  23d 
of  that  month,  and  the  following  step  was  taken  relative  to  a 
declaration  of  independence  : 

'  The  article  in  the  warrant,  viz  : — To  consider  whether  the 
town  will,  in  conformity  to  a  Resolve  of  the  late  Honourable 
House  of  Representatives  for  this  Colony  [on  the  10th  of  May] 
advise  their  Representatives,  "  That  if  the  Honourable  Conti- 
nental Congress  should,  for  the  safety  of  the  Colonies,  de- 
clare them  independent  of  the  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  they, 
the  inhabitants,  will  solemnly  engage  with  their  lives  and  for- 
tunes, to  support  them  in  the  measure,"  was  read,  and  duly 
considered,  and  the  question  being  accordingly  put,  passed  in 
the  affirmative  unanimously.' 

The  instructions  to  the  representatives  expressed  the  same 
sentiments,  and  contained  also  many  very  judicious  remarks 
concerning  the  establishment  of  a  regular  government  for  the 
people  of  Massachusetts.  The  declaration  of  Independence, 
bearing  the  signature  of  the  proscribed  Hancock,  as  President 
of  the  Congress  that  issued  it,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1776,  was  made 
publick  at  Boston  on  the  1 8th  with  great  parade  and  exultation.! 

The  subject  of  a  state  constitution  was  taken  into  consider- 
ation by  the  general  court,  without  delay  :  but  it  was  not  till 
the  year  1780  that  our  present  form  was  adopted,  after  the 
rejection  of  a  previous  plan.     Several  meetings  were  held  in 


an  attack  upon  them  as  to  compel  them  to  leave  their  station,  and  take  the  advantage  of  a 
westerly  wind  to  sail  for  Halifax.  Had  the  wind  continued  from  the  east,  they  must  inev- 
itably have  surrendered. 

Several  transports  arrived  at  different  dates  some  weeks  after  the  evacuation  of  the  town, 
not  having  received  information  of  the  fact,  and  were  taken.  The  number  of  prisoners 
amounted  to  about  500. 

*  The  people  of  Boston  had  assembled  twice  or  three  times  at  Watertown,  for  the  trans- 
action of  town  affairs,  during  the  siege.  Thursday  lecture  had  been  continued  by  Dr.  An- 
drew Eliot  until  about  the  23d  of  Dec.  and  was  renewed  immediately  after  the  evacuation 
of  the  town,  on  the  28th  of  March,  when  Washington  attended. 

t  Bradford,  Hist,  of  Mass.  ii.  104, 116,  186,  320,  326. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  313 

Boston  on  the  occasion,  and  the  debates  were  very  animated. 
The  town  finally  agreed  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution, 
recommending  some  amendments.  A  majority  of  the  people 
accepting  the  plan  as  it  stood,  the  4th  of  Sept.  was  appointed  for 
the  election  of  the  state  officers.  The  votes  for  governour  in 
Boston  were  923,  of  which  Hancock  had  858,  Bowdoin  64, 
S.  Adams  1.  The  Gen.  Court  met  on  the  25th  of  October, 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  Hancock  was  elected  governour 
by  a  great  majority.  There  was  no  choice  of  Lt.  Gov.  by 
the  people;  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  chosen  by  the  court,  but  de- 
clined; so  likewise  did  James  Warren  Esq.  of  Plymouth; 
Thomas  Cushing  Esq.  of  Boston  accepted  the  office. 

The  joy,  which  the  people  of  Boston  could  not  suppress  on 
this  occasion,  from  '  having  a  Governour  who  proceeded  out 
of  the  midst  of  us,'  was  signified  to  Gov.  Hancock  in  an  ad- 
dress from  the  selectmen,  to  which  he  returned  an  answer, 
concluding  with  the  assurance  that  in  whatever  situation  his 
country  should  please  to  place  him,  the  metropolis  of  this 
commonwealth  might  ever  depend  upon  his  particular  atten- 
tion to  its  interests. 

From  the  time  of  the  evacuation  of  the  town  and  the  rout 
of  the  British  fleet  from  the  lower  harbour,  Boston  and  its  vi- 
cinity had  ceased  to  be  the  seat  of  the  war.  The  citizens 
however  bore  their  full  portion  in  its  burdens,  and  took  part 
in  its  fatigues  and  duties  by  sea  and  land,  as  well  as  in  the 
councils  of  the  Congress  and  embassies  to  foreign  parts. 
They  maintained  throughout  the  contest  that  no  terms  should 
be  made  with  Britain,  unaccompanied  with  the  unconditional 
acknowledgment  of  independence.  They  were  not  however 
desirous  to  prolong  the  warfare,  and  received  as  joyfully  as 
any  of  their  countrymen  the  intelligence  of  peace.  The 
proclamation  of  Congress  announcing  this  event,  reached 
Boston  by  express,  on  the  23d  of  April, 1783,  and  '  the  sheriff 
of  the  co.  of  Suffolk,  Jos.  Henderson  Esq.  announced  the 
same  from  the  balcony  of  the  State-house,  at  one  o'clock,  be- 
fore which  a  large  concourse  of  the  most  respectable  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  were  assembled,  who  demonstrated  by 
three  loud  huzzas  their  joy  upon  this  occasion :  after  which 
13  cannon  from  the  fortresses  at  the  castle,  and  the  same 
number  at  Fort-hill  were  fired.' 

The  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  was  an  event  of 
equal  importance.  The  Massachusetts  convention,  which  as- 
sembled on  this  subject,  in  January  1788,  consisted  of  360 
members,  of  whom  a  great  portion  came  with  strong  prejudi- 
ces against  the  constitution  :  but  after  a  discussion  of  several 
weeks,  when  the  question  of  acceptance  was  finally  decided, 
there  were  found  to  be  187  for,  and  168  against  it,  giving  a 
40 


314  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

majority  of  19.  This  decision  was  declared  'on  the  6th  of 
Feb.  in  a  manner  too  impressive  to  be  forgotten  by  any  who 
were  present.'*  The  citizens  of  Boston  expressed  great  joy  on 
the  occasion,  which  was  manifested  by  a  numerous  procession 
composed  of  all  classes  and  trades,  with  their  respective  and 
appropriate  badges.  Many  farmers  and  others  attended  from 
the  country  and  joined  the  procession,  with  the  plough  and 
other  implements  of  husbandry.  They  formed  at  Faneuil- 
hall,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  houses  of  the  gentlemen, 
who  had  represented  the  town  in  the  convention,  and  saluted 
them  with  cheers  and  from  the  guns  of  a  small  ship,  which 
made  part  of  the  procession.  Afterwards,  as  many  as  could 
find  seats  partook  of  an  entertainment  at  the  hall ;  but  mul- 
titudes we  are  told  went  away  emptj?. 

The  principal  events  of  the  revolutionary  war  and  other 
important  dates  having  been  preserved  in  the  inscriptions  on 
the  monument,  which  was  erected  on  Beacon  Hill,  we  insert 
the  same  here,  with  a  drawing  of  the  monument  and  of  the 
beacon  whose  place  it  occupied.  The  beacon  was  blown 
down  (Nov.  26,  1789)  and  the  monument  was  commenced  in 
the  next  year,  but  not  finished  till  the  spring  of  1791.  It  was 
'  a  plain  column  of  the  Dorick  order,  raised  on  its  proper  pe- 
destal, substantially  built  of  brick  and  stone.  It  was  encrust- 
ed with  a  white  cement,  and  had  a  large  eagle  of  wood,  gilt, 
at  the  top,  supporting  the  American  arms.  The  height,  in- 
cluding the  eagle,  was  60  feet  ;  the  diameter  of  the  column 
was  4  feet,  the  pedestal  was  8  feet.'  The  beacon  was  about 
the  same  height. 

INSCRIPTION    ON   THE    SOUTH    SIDE    OF    THE   MONUMENT. 

TO  COMMEMORATE  THAT  TRAIN  OF  EVENTS  WHICH  LEI)  TO  THE  AMERICAN 
^REVOLUTION,  AND  FINALLT  SECURED  LIBERTY  AND  INDEPENDENCE  TO  THE 
UNITED  STATES,  THIS  COLUMN  IS  ERECTED  BT  THE  VOLUNTARY  CONTRIBU- 
TION   OF   THE    CITIZENS    OF    BOSTON, 

MDCCXC. 

ON    THE    WEST   SIDE  : 

Stamp  Act  passed,  1765,  repealed,  1766. — Board  of  customs  established,  1767. — British  troops 
fired  on  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  March  5,  1770. — Tea  act  passed,  1773. — Tea  destroyed  in 

Boston,  Decern.   16. — Port   of  Boston   shut  and   guarded,  June   1,  1774 General  Congress 

at  Philadelphia,  Sep.  4. — Provincial  Congress  at  Concord,  Oct.  11. — Battle  of  Lexington, 
April  19,  177S. — Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  June  17. — Washington  took  command  of  the 
army,  July  2. — Boston  evacuated,  March  17,  1776. — Independance  declared  by  Congress, 
July  4,  1776 ;  Hancock  President. 


*  The  session  of  the  convention  on  that  day  was  held  in   the  meeting  house,  in  Long-lane, 
■which  afterwards  received  the  name  of  Ftderal-Street,  from  this  circumstance* 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


315 


ON    THE    NORTH    SIDE  : 

Capture  of  Hessians  at  Trenton,  Dec.  26,  1776. — Capture  of  Hessians  at  Bennington,  Aug. 
16,  1777.— Capture  of  British  army  at  Saratoga,  Oct.  17.— Alliance  with  Frause,  Feb.  6, 
1778. — Confederation  of  the  United  States  formed,  July  9. — Constitution  of  Massachu- 
setts formed,  1780 ;  Bowdoin  President  of  Convention. — Capture  of  British  army  at 
York,  Oct.  19,  1781.— Prelimenaries  of  Peace,  Nov.  30,  1782.— Definitive  treaty  of  Peace, 
Sent.  10,  1783.— Federal  Constitution  formed,  Sept.  17,  1787,  and  ratified  by  the  United 
States,  1787  to  1790.— New  Congress  assembled  at  New- York,  April  6, 1789,— Washington 
inaugurated  President,  April  30.— Publick  debts  funded,  Aug.  4,  1790. 

ON    THE    EAST    SIDE  I 

AMERICANS 
WHILE   FROM    THIS     EMINENCE,    SCENES    OF     LUXURIANT   FERTILITY,    OF     FLOUR- 
ISHING   COMMERCE,    AND    THE    ABODES    OF    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS   MEET    TOUR    VIEW, 
FORGET    NOT    THOSE,    WHO    BY.    THEIR   EXERTIONS  HAVE   SECURED    TO    YOU   THESX 
BLESSINGS. 

VIEW  OF  THE  BEACON  AND  MONUMENT  ON  BEACON-HILL.* 


*  The  stones  bearing  the  inscriptions,    (which  we  have  copied  literally)   with   the  eagle 
which  surmounted  the  column,  may  be  seen  in  the  new  State  House- 


/ 


316  HISTORY    OF  BOSTO.W 


CHAPTER  LV. 

Famed  as  the  Appian  way, 
The  world's  first  bridge  to  day 
All  nations  shall  convey 

From  shore  to  shore. — Dawes. 

Having  thus  noticed  the  principal  publick  events  of  general 
interest,  we  shall  devote  the  remainder  of  our  work  to  ac- 
counts of  the  various  improvements,  institutions,  and  under- 
takings, which  have  engaged  the  attention  of  the  people  of 
Boston,  since  the  revolution. 

The  first  great  undertaking,  (which  at  the  time  was  consid- 
ered the  greatest  that  had  ever  been  projected  in  America,*) 
was  the  erection  of '  a  bridge  over  Charles  river  in  the  place 
where  the  ferry  between  Boston  and  Charlestown  was  kept.5 
The  Act,  which  incorporated  Messrs.  John  Hancock,  Thomas 
Russell,  Nath.  Gorham,  and  Ebcn  Parsons  and  others,  who 
had  subscribed  to  a  fund  for  executing  and  completing  this 
purpose,  was  passed  March  9,  1785,  and  the  bridge  was  so 
far  completed  that  the  last  pier  was  ready  to  be  put  down  on 
the  SI st  of  May,  1786. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  the  bridge  was  opened  for  passengers. 
Preparations  had  been  made  for  great  festivity  on  the  occa- 
sion. Salutes  of  13  guns  were  fired  at  sunrise  from  Bunker 
and  Copps'  hills,  and  the  bells  of  Christ  church  rang  repeat- 
ed peals.  This  salute  formed  a  contrast  so  striking,  compar- 
ed with  the  hostile  and  bloody  one  of  the  same  day,  of  the 
same  month,  and  of  the  week,  in  '75,  as  to  excite  in  every 
breast  emotions  of  the  happiest  kind.  At  one,  P.  M.  the  pro- 
prietors '  assembled  in  the  [Old]  State-house,  for  the  purpose 
of  waiting  on  the  different  branches  of  the  legislature  over  the 
bridge.  The  procession  consisted  of  almost  every  respecta- 
ble character  in  publick  and  private  life  ;  as  they  moved  from 


*  In  a  pamphlet  on  'the  distressed  state  of  Boston,' 1720,  we  fiud  the  following'  remark: 
'if  there  was  a  bridge  built  over  Charles  River,  if  50,000/.  were  expended  to  make  it  durable, 
and  so  a  moderate  toll  laid  on  all  carts,  coaches,  horses,  &.C.  this  would  help  us  by  employ- 
ing the  poor,  and  the  circulation  of  the  bills  would  be  of  great  service,  and  other  things  of 
this  nature  might  be  thought  on.'  On  thetown  records,  we  find,  April  27,  1720,  'Voted  that 
it  be  given  as  an  instruction  to  the  representatives  of  this  town,  now  chosen,  to  promote  the 
building  a  bridge  over  Charles  River,  at  the  place  where  the  ferry  hath  been  usually  kept, 
viz.  between  Mr.  Gee's  and  Mr.  Hudson's  point,  and  at  no  other  place.' 

In  1726,  Town  Rec.  p.  467,  there  is  mention  of  a  proposed  bridge  from  Winnessimet  ferry 
to  Noddle's  Island,  by  John  Yeamans,  Esq. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  317 

State-street,  a  salute  was  fired  from  the  Castle ;  and  upon 
their  arrival  at  the  entrance  of  the  bridge,  the  attendant  com- 
panies of  artillery  and  artificers,  formed  two  lines  on  the  right 
and  left  of  the  proprietors,  and  moved  on  to  the  centre  of  the 
bridge,  when  the  President  of  the  proprietary  advanced 
alone,  and  gave  orders  to  Mr.  Cox,  the  master  workman,  to 
fix  the  draw  for  the  passage  of  the  company,  which  was  im- 
mediately done.  At  this  moment  13  cannon  were  fired  from 
Copps'  hill,  and  the  procession  passed  forward,  attended  by 
the  loudest  shouts  of  acclamation,  from  a  concourse  of  at 
least  20,000  spectators.  As  the  company  ascended  Breed's 
hill,  13  cannon  were  discharged.  The  gentlemen  took  their 
seats  at  two  tables  of  320  feet,  united  at  each  end  by  a  semi- 
circular one,  which  accommodated  800  persons,  who  spent 
the  day  in  sober  festivity,  and  separated  at  6  o'clock.' 

The  following  description  of  Charles-river  bridge  was  pub- 
lished at  the  time,  as  taken  from  actual  survey.  '  The  abut- 
ment at  Charlestown,  from  the  old  landing,  is  100  feet ;  space 
to  the  first  pier  16f  feet ;  36  piers  at  equal  distances  to  the 
draw  622|  feet;  width  of  the  draw  30  feet ;  39  piers  at  equal 
distances  from  the  draw  672  feet  ;  space  to  the  abutment  at 
Boston  16|  feet  ;  abutment  at  Boston  to  the  old  landing  45£ 
feet;    whole   lengthl 503  feet. 

'  The  75  piers  total,  upon  which  this  elegant  structure 
stands,  are  each  composed  of  7  sticks  of  oak  timber,  united 
by  a  cap  piece,  strong  braces  and  girts,  and  afterwards  driv- 
en into  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  firmly  secured  by  a  single 
pile  on  each  side,  driven  obliquely  to  a  solid  bottom.  The 
piers  are  connected  to  each  other  by  large  string-pieces, 
which  are  covered  with  4  inch  plank.  The  Bridge  is  42 
feet  in  width,  and  on  each  side  is  accommodated  with  a  pas- 
sage 6  feet  wide,  railed  in  for  the  safety  of  people  on  foot. 
The  Bridge  has  a  gradual  rise  from  each  end,  so  as  to  be  two 
feet  higher  in  the  middle  than  at  the  extremities.  Forty  ele- 
gant lamps  are  erected  at  suitable  distances,  to  illuminate  it 
when  necessary.  There  are  four  strong  stone  wharves  con- 
nected with  three  piers  each,  sunk  in  various  parts  of  the 
river. 

'  The  floor  of  the  Bridge  at  the  highest  tides,  is  4  feet  above 
the  water,  which  generally  rises  about  12  or  14  feet.  The 
distance  where  the  longest  pier  is  erected,  from  the  floor  of 
the  Bridge  to  the  bed  of  the  river,  is  46|  feet.' 

The  cost  of  this  bridge  has  been  stated  at  £l  5,000,  lawful, 
and  the  property  was  divided  into  150  shares  of  £l00  each. 
Rates  of  toll,  to  be  double  on  Lord's  days,  were  established, 
by  the  act  of  incorporation,  which  the  proprietors  were  to  en- 
joy for  forty  years,  paying  to  the  college  at  Cambridge  an 
annuity  of  £200,  in  consideration  of  their  loss  of  income  from 


318  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

the  ferry.  This  period  was  extended  to  70  years,  and  the 
double  toll  repealed,  when  the  charter  was  granted  for  West 
Boston  Bridge,  at  the  expiration  of  which  period  the  property 
reverts  to  the  state. 

There  had  been  considerable  effort  to  have  the  first  bridge 
carried  from  West  Boston  to  Cambridge,  but  the  expediency 
of  making  the  experiment  across  the  narrower  part  of  the 
river  was  so  apparent,  that  the  town  of  Boston  had  expressed 
an  opinion  almost  unanimous  (1238  to  2)  in  favour  of  it. 

West  Boston  Bridge  is  a  conveyance  from  the  late  Pest- 
house  point,at  the  west  end  of  Cambridge-street,  over  Charles 
river,  to  the  opposite  shore  in  Cambridge.  A  number  of  gen- 
tlemen, (Francis  Dana,  Oliver  Wendell,  James  Sullivan,  Hen- 
ry Jackson,  MungoMackay,  Wm.  Wetmore,)  were  incorpora- 
ted for  the  purpose  of  erecting  this  bridge,  March  9th,  1792. 

'  The  causeway  to  W.  Boston  bridge  was  begun  July  15th, 
1792,  and  suspended  after  the  26th  of  December,  till  the  20th 
of  March  1793,  when  the  work  was  resumed.  The  wood 
work  of  the  bridge  was  begun  the  8th  of  April,  1793,  and  the 
bridge  and  causeway  opened  for  passengers  the  23d  of  No- 
vember following,  being  seven  months  and  an  half  from  lay- 
ing the  first  pier.  The  sides  of  the  causeway  are  stoned, 
capstand,  and  railed  ;  on  each  side  of  which  is  a  canal  about 
thirty  feet  wide. 

'The  bridge  stands  on  180  piers,  is  ......  3483  feet  long. 

Bridge  over  the  gore,  14  do.        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -         275  do. 

Abutment  Boston  side,        -.--..--.  87 1-2 

Causeway,  -----------  3344 

Distance  from  end  of  the  causeway  to  Cambridge  Meeting-house,     -  7810 

Width  of  the  bridge, 40 

Railed  on  each  side  for  foot  passengers. 

'  To  the  proprietors  a  toll  was  granted  for  70  years  from 
the  opening  of  the  bridge,*  which  together  with  the  causeway 
was  estimated  to  have  cost  about  £23,000,  1.  m.  The  prin- 
cipal undertaker  for  building  the  bridge,  was  Mr.Whiting.' 

Those  two  bridges  and  the  neck  continued  to  be  the  only 
avenues  to  the  town,  landward,  until  the  opening  of  South 
Boston  Bridge.  This  grew  out  of  the  project  for  annexing 
Dorchester  Neck  (so  called)  to  Boston,  as  a  part  of  the  same 
town.  In  the  latter  end  of  1803,  there  were  but  ten  families 
on  that  peninsula,  which  comprised  an  extent  of  560  acres  of 
land.  These  families  united  with  several  citizens  of  Boston 
in  a  petition  to  the  town  (Dec.  27)  for  the  privilege   of  being 


*  This  term  has  since  been  extended  to  70  years  from  the  opening  of  Craigie's  bridge. 
West  Boston  to  pay  the  College  2001.  annually,  and  Craigie's  to  pay  West  Boston  1001.  during 
their  joint  existence. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  319 

annexed  thereto,  '  upon  the  single  condition  that  the  inhabi- 
tants [of  B.]  will  procure  a  bridge  to  be  erected  between  Bos- 
ton and  Dorchester  neck.'  On  the  31st  of  Jan.  1804,  after 
several  confused  meetings  on  the  subject,  the  town  agreed  to 
the  proposition,  on  condition  '  that  the  place  from  which  and 
the  terms  on  which  the  bridge  should  be  built  shall  be  left 
entirely  to  the  Legislature.'  Application  was  made  to  the 
General  Court,  and  measures  were  in  train  for  authorising  a 
bridge  from  South-Street  to  the  point.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  South  end  of  the  town,  having  opposed  this  measure  in 
vain  thus  far  in  its  progress,  formed  a  plan  at  this  juncture,  in 
which  they  proposed  to  erect  a  bridge  where  the  present 
bridge  stands,  and,  to  obviate  the  objection  that  such  a  bridge 
would  not  lessen  the  distance  from  the  point  so  much  as  the 
South-street  bridge  would,  they  offered  to  construct  a  commo- 
dious street,  across  the  flats  from  Rainsford's  lane  to  the  head 
of  the  proposed  bridge.  They  presented  a  petition  to  the 
Court  to  be  incorporated  for  these  purposes  '  upon  the  pre- 
sumption that  no  liberty  will  be  granted  for  the  erection  of 
any  other  bridge,'  to  the  northward  of  their  bridge,  '  unless 
at  some  future  period  the  increased  settlement  of  this  part  of 
the  country  should  be  such,  that  the  publick  exigencies  should 
require  the  same.'  This  plan  and  petition  met  with  so  fa- 
vourable a  reception,  that  the  Dorchester  point  proprietors 
were  induced  to  make  a  compromise  with  the  South-end  peti- 
tioners, in  which  it  was  agreed,  that  the  South-Street  bridge 
should  be  abandoned,  and  that  the  South-end  bridge  should 
be  transferred  to  the  Dorchester  company,  and  the  proposed 
street  be  carried  forward  by  the  petitioners.  A  joint  com- 
mittee made  a  report  on  the  bases  of  this  compromise,  which 
was  accepted  in  concurrence,  Feb.  23d  ;  and  on  the  6th  of 
March,  bills  were  passed  for  the  three  objects,  the  annexation 
of  Dorchester  neck  to  Boston,  the  incorporation  of  the  Pro- 
prietors of  Boston  South  Bridge,  and  also  of  the  Front-Street 
Corporation  in  the  town  of  Boston. 

Messrs.  William  Tudor,  Gardiner  Green,  Jona.  Mason,  and 
Harrison  Gray  Otis,  were  the  proprietors  named  in  Boston 
South  Bridge  act.*  Seventy  years'  improvement  was  allowed, 
from  the  date  of  the  first  opening  of  said  bridge  for  passen- 
gers, which  took  place  '  in  the  summer  of  1805.'  On  the  first 
of  October,  it  was  the  scene  of  a  military  display  and  sham 
fight.  This  bridge  is  1551  feet  in  length,  and  cost  the  pro- 
prietors about  56,000  dollars. 


*  The  proprietors  of  Roxbury  canal  (incorporated  Feb.  7,  1796)  procured  the  insertion  of 
a  clause  in  the  act,  requiring  the  South  Boston  bridge  proprietors  to  pay  a  certain  sum  to 
vessels  passing  above  the  draw. 


320  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

Canal  or  Craigie's  Bridge  was  opened  on  Commencement- 
day,  August  30, 1  809.  It  runs  from  Barton's  pt.  in  Boston,  to 
Lechmere's  pt.  in  Cambridge.  Its  length  is  2796  ft. ;  its  width, 
40  ft.  This  bridge  on  the  Cambridge  side  is  united  toCharles- 
lown  by  Prison-point  bridge,  which  is  1821  ft.  long,  and  35 
ft.  broad,  having  but  one  side  railed  for  foot  passengers. 

All  these  bridges  are  well  lighted  by  lamps  when  the  even- 
ings are  dark,  and  the  lights,  placed  at  regular  distances, 
have  a  splendid  and  romantic  appearance.  The  rates  of  toll 
are  the  same  on  Charlestown,  Craigie's  and  W.  Boston.  Pas- 
sengers to  and  from  Cambridge  over  Prison-point  bridge 
are  not  subject  to  toll.  Foot  passengers  are  not  taxed  on 
South-Boston  bridge,  but  the  rates  for  vehicles,  &c.  are  rather 
higher.  The  construction  of  all  these  bridges  is  said  to  be 
similar,  excepting  that  Craigie's  is  covered  with  a  layer  of 
gravel,  and  some  part  of  it  has  been  recently  Macadamized.* 

The  Western  Avenue,  or  Mill  Dam,  erected  by  the  Boston 
and  Roxbury  Mill  Corporation,  from  Beacon-street  in  Boston 
to  Sewall's  point  in  Brookline,  constitutes  a  sixth  avenue  into 
the  city.  The  project  for  this  great  work  was  brought  before 
the  town  in  a  petition  from  Isaac  P.  Davis  and  others,  June 
11,  1813,  and  the  inhabitants  having  given  their  assent  to  its 
execution,  on  certain  conditions,  Messrs.  I.  P.  Davis,  Uriah 
Cotting,  Wm.  Brown,  and  their  associates,  were  incorporated 
for  the  purpose,  June  1 4, 1 8 1 4.  Very  little  was  done  towards 
the  accomplishment  of  this  object  before  January  1818,  when 
Mr.  Cotting  issued  an  address  to  the  publick,  setting  forth  the 
advantages  to  be  derived  to  Boston  from  the  contemplated 
improvement.  Subscription  papers  were  not  long  after  open- 
ed, and  all  the  shares  were  immediately  taken  on  one  day, 
and  the  next  day  were  on  sale  at  an  advanced  price.  The 
work  was  commenced  under  the  eye  of  Mr.  Cotting,  but  he 
did  not  live  to  witness  its  completion  :  his  place  was  supplied 
by  Col.  Loammi  Baldwin,  and  the  road  was  opened  for  pas- 
sengers, July  2,1821.  There  was  a  splendid  ceremony  on 
the  occasion  :  a  cavalcade  of  citizens,  under  the  direction  of 
Adj.  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Sumner,  at  an  early  hour  entered  the 
town  over  the  dam,  and  were  welcomed  on  this  side  by  the 
inhabitants,  who  waited  to  receive  them. 

The  main  Dam  is  composed  of  solid  materials,  water-tight : 
its  surface  is  three  or  four  feet  above  high- water  mark  :  it  is 
fifty  feet  in  width  in  the  narrowest  part,  and  100  in  the  widest, 
and  one  mile  and  a  half  in  length.  The  rates  of  toll  are  the 
same  as  at  West-Boston  bridge. 

*  Persons  named  in  act  incorporating  the  Canal  Bridge,  Feb.  27,  1807.  John  C.  Jones, 
Loammi  Baldwin,  Aaron  Dexter,  Benjamin  Wild,  Jos.  Coolidge  jun.  Benja.  Joy,  Gorham 
Parsons,  Jona.  Ingersoll,  John  Beach,  Abijah  Cheever,  Wm.  B.Eutchins,  Stephen  Howard, 
and  Andrew  Craigie. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  321 


CHAPTER  LVL 

"  Then  Commerce  brought  into  the  publick  walk 
The  busy  merchant  ;  the  big-  warehouse  built  ; 
Then,  too,  the  pillar'd  dome,  magnifick,  heav'd 
Its  ample  roof." 

In  noticing  the  changes  which  took  place  in  various  parts 
of  the  town,  after  the  peace,  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the 
city  government,  we  have  occasion  first  to  mention  an  exten- 
sive fire,  which  occurred  on  Friday,  April  20,  1787.  It  com- 
menced about  sunset,  in  a  malt-house  belonging  to  William 
Patten,  in  Beach-street.  The  wind  at  N.  E.  blowing  hard 
carried  the  flakes  to  a  great  distance,  so  that  many  houses 
were  on  fire  at  the  same  moment.  In  less  than  fifteen  minutes 
the  spire  of  the  Hollis-street  meeting-house,  nearly  50  rods 
from  where  the  fire  began,  was  seen  to  catch,  and  the  whole 
edifice  was  in  a  short  time  burnt  to  the  ground.  The  build- 
ings consumed  were  about  100,  of  which  60  were  dwelling- 
houses,  some  elegant  and  costly.  Both  sides  of  the  main 
street  were  laid  waste  :  the  east  from  Mr.  Knapp's  to  Mr. 
Bradford's,  and  from  Mrs.  Inches'  to  Mr.  Osborne's  on  the 
west  :  that  is,  from  Elliot  to  Nassau-street  on  the  west  side 
of  the  main  street,  and  on  the  east  side  from  Beach-street  to 
the  corner  opposite  Nassau-street.  The  buildings  which  were 
erected  on  the  ruins  were  mostly  of  wood,  three  stories  high, 
some  of  them  neat  and  very  elegant. 

Theirs*  block  of  brick  buildings  was  the  range  called  the 
Tontine,  in  Franklin-street.  Until  the  year  1792,  that  street 
had  lain  in  an  unimproved  state.  There  was  a  slough  or 
quagmire  at  the  lower  part  of  it,  and  the  project  to  build  in  its 
neighbourhood  was  deemed  almost  quixotick.  A  plan  was 
brought  forward  for  erecting  a  block  there,  on  the  principles 
of  the  tontine,  as  practised  in  other  parts  of  the  world.*  Sub- 
scribers were  to  furnish  stipulated  sums  towards  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  object,  to  be  invested  in  a  capital  stock, 
which  was  to  be  improved  to  the  best  advantage,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  a  term  of  years  to  be  divided  among  the  surviv- 
ing subscribers.     The    Legislature  discouraged  this  plan  by 


*  The  slough  was  first  drained  by  Jos.  Barrell,  esq.  who  connected  it  with  his  land  in 
Summer-street,  and  laid  it  out  as  a  garden :  he  afterwards  sunk  a  large  fish-pond 
on  the  same  spot,  and  stored  it  wilh  gold  and  silver  fish,  ana!  ornamented  it  with  a  hand- 
some fountain. 

41 


322  HISTORY   OF   BOSTON. 

refusing  an  act  of  incorporation  :  but  the  work  proceeded  un- 
der a  different  arrangement,  and  the  foundation  of  the  build- 
ings on  the  south  side  was  laid  August  8,  1793.  These  form- 
ed a  Crescent  of  sixteen  dwelling-houses,  extending  480  feet 
in  length,  three  stories  high,  finished  in  the  modern  style.  The 
general  appearance  is  simple  and  uniform.  The  outline  is 
varied  by  a  large  arch,  having  publick  rooms  over  it,  with  an 
attick  in  the  centre,  and  two  houses  at  each  end,  which  pro- 
ject in  advance  and  are  decorated  with  pilasters  and  a  balus- 
trade. The  open  space  in  front  of  these  buildings  is  100  feet 
wide  in  the  centre  and  50  ft.  at  the  ends.  A  grass  plat  300  ft. 
long  occupies  the  middle  of  that  space  :  it  is  inclosed,  and  con- 
tains a  monumental  urn,  in  memory  of  Dr.  Franklin.  The 
opposite  side,  which  is  built  on  a  straight  line,  in  a  varied  style 
of  architecture,  consists  of  eight  houses,  in  four  blocks,  which 
constitute  what  is  called  Franklin-place.  Messrs.  William 
Scollay,  Charles  Bulfinch,  and  Charles  Vaughan,  were  the 
principal  agents  in  this  great  improvement. 

A  very  distressing  fire  occurred  on  the  morning  of  July  30T 
1794,  which  laid  waste  the  extensive  square  between  Pearl- 
street,  M ilk,  Atkinson,  and  Purchase  streets,  to  the  sea.  It 
commenced  about  4  A.  M.  in  the  rope-walk  of  Mr.  Edward 
Howe,  and  communicated  to  six  other  walks  adjacent, 
of  which  one  was  two  stories  high,  and  all  600  feet  in  length, 
well  stored  with  hemp  and  other  materials  adapted  to  the 
trade.  The  wind  holding  N.N.E.  till  near  the  close  of  the  fire, 
prevented  the  devastation  from  extending  so  far,  as  almost 
any  other  wind  would  inevitably  have  carried  it.  Ninety-six 
buildings,  of  which  43  were  dwelling-houses,  were  consumed. 
The  amount  of  losses,  rendered  to  a  committee  of  the  town, 
was  $209,861  50,  exclusive  of  several  large  sums  not  ex- 
hibited. 

Great  interest  was  at  this  time  excited  in  favour  of  remov- 
ing the  ropewalks  from  the  heart  of  the  town.  Lechmere's 
point  was  proposed  by  some  as  a  suitable  location  for  them, 
but  the  town  '  in  a  moment  of  sympathy  and  feeling  for  the 
sufferings  of  particular  individuals,'  voluntarily  gave  them  the 
right  of  using  the  land  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common.*  By 
this  disposition  a  very  fine  square  was  left  open,  capable  of 
making  many  valuable  building  lots  ;  it  is  now  covered  by 
some  of  the  most  eligible  houses  in  the  city. 


*  Six  ropewalks  were  erected  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common  :  they  were  all  destroyed  by 
fire,  Feb.  18,  1806  :  five  being  rebuilt,  four  of  them  were  again  burnt  in  the  fall  of 
1819,  and  in  the  course  of  the  year  1824,  the  city  purchased  the  rights  of  the  ropewalk 
owners,  by  which  the  property  has  reverted  to  the  inhabitants,  and  the  walks  are  removed 
to  the  neck  and  mill-dam 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  323 

In  the  month  of  May,  1795,  the  town  purchased  of  Gov. 
Hancock's  heirs  the  spot  of  land  on  which  the  State-house 
stands,  and  transferred  it  to  the  Commonwealth.  On  the  4th 
of  July  the  corner-stone  of  this  edifice,  which  makes  so  strik- 
ing a  figure  in  every  view  of  Boston,  was  laid  with  great  cer- 
emony. The  stone  was  drawn  to  the  spot  by  15  white  horses, 
(then  the  number  of  States  in  the  Union,)  and  laid  by  the 
Governour,  assisted  by  the  Grand  Masters  of  masonick  lod- 
ges. A  silver  plate,  bearing  the  name  of  the  depositors,  and 
many  pieces  of  current  money,  were  placed  beneath  the  stone.* 

This  building  is  of  an  oblong  form,  '  173  ft.  front  and  61 
deep.  It  consists  externally  of  a  basement  story,  twenty  feet 
high,  and  a  principal  story  thirty  feet.  This,  in  the  centre  of 
the  front,  is  covered  with  an  attic  sixty  feet  wide,  twenty  feet 
high,  which  is  covered  with  a  pediment.  Immediately  above 
this  rises  a  dome,  fifty  feet  diameter,  and  thirty  high  ;  the 
whole  terminates  with  an  elegant  circular  lantern  support- 
ing an  elegant  pine  cone.  The  basement  story  is  finished 
plain  on  the  wings  with  square  windows.  The  centre  is  94 
feet  in  length,  and  formed  of  arches  which  project  14  feet  ; 
they  form  a  covered  walk  below  ;  and  support  a  colonnade  of 
Corinthian  columns  of  the  same  extent  above.  The  outside 
walls  are  of  large  patent  bricks,  with  white  marble  fascias, 
imposts,  and  keystones.'  The  body  of  the  building  is  paint- 
ed of  a  Portland-stone  colour  ;  the  dome  of  a  bronze. 

The  foundation  of  this  edifice  is  about  100  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  harbour,  and  its  elevation  and  size  make  it  a  very 
conspicuous  object.  Two  flights  of  stairs  lead  to  the  top  of 
the  outer  dome,  170  steps  from  the  foundation.  The  view  from 
this  dome  affords  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful 
spectacles.  The  eye  embraces  at  once  every  avenue  and 
every  publick  building  in  the  city,  and  overlooks  the  towns 
adjacent  '  all  speckled  with  wrhite  houses  and  country  seats 
amidst  groves  and  luxuriant  fields.'  At  our  feet,  on  the  right, 
we  see  the  mansion  house  of  Hancock,  (a  venerable  stone 
building  of  eighty  years  standing)  and  in  front  is  spread  the 
common,  like  a  splendid  carpet  of  green,  bounded  on  all  sides 
by  the  mslls  closely  shaded  by  trees  of  various  growth,  over 
which  the  great  elm  in  the  middle  of  the  common,  (near  to  an 
old  redoubt  and  beside  a  small  artificial  pond,)  seems  to  com- 


*  The  inscription  was  as  follows  :  This  Corner  Stone  of  a  building  intended  for  the  use  of 
the  Legislative  and  Executive  branches  of  Government  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
was  laid  by  His  Excellency  Samuel  Adams  Esq.  Governour  of  said  Commonwealth,  assisted 
by  the  most  Worshipful  Paul  Revere,  Grand  Master  and  the  Right  Worshipful  William  Sed- 
ley,  Deputy  Grand  Master,  the  Grand  Wardens  and  brethren  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  31assa- 
chusetts  on  the  fourth  day  of  July  An.  Dom.  1795.  A.  L.  5795  being  the  XXth  anniversary 
of  American  Independence. 


324  HISTOKl    OF    BOSTON. 

mand  the  whole,  with  the  majestick  waving  of  his  huge  branch- 
es, the  growth  of  a  century.*  East,  lies  in  full  view,  the  sight 
unobstructed  in  its  farthest  reach,  the  ocean  and  the  harbour, 
bespangled  with  islands,  almost  as  numerous  and  said  to  be 
equally  as  charming  as  those  which  beautify  the  bay  of  Na- 
ples :  all  together  combining  to  make  this  view  one  of  the 
most  delightful  panoramas  that  the  world  affords.! 

'  The  New  Alms-house,  so  called,!  (which  stood  till  May, 
1825,  in  Leverett-Street)  was  built  in  the  year  1800:  the 
Overseers  of  the  poor  held  their  first  meeting  in  it,  Dec. 
3d.  It  was  an  oblong  building,  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
bank  of  Charles  river,  measuring  270  feet  front,  and  56  deep. 
It  consisted  of  a  basement  story,  divided  into  three  large  kitch- 
ens, and  a  number  of  commodious  rooms,  which  were  im- 
proved for  work-shops  and  other  purposes.  Above  were  three 
upright  stories,  which  gave  forty-eight  rooms,  24  by  22  feet  ; 
four  staircases,  10  feet  in  width,  leading  through  the  several 
stories.  In  the  centre  was  a  hall  40  by  50,  and  a  chapel 
above  of  the  same  dimensions  ;  each  of  them  being  about  15 
feet  in  height.  The  large  arched  windows  were  finished  with 
fluted  pilasters  of  the  Ionic  order.  The  outside  walls  were 
of  large  bricks,  with  white  marble  fascias,  imposts  and  key- 
stones, and  the  roof  covered  with  slate.  Four  brick  parti- 
tions ran  through  the  building,  in  which  stood  the  chimnies, 
containing  a  funnel  for  every  room.  The  whole  building 
was  enclosed  with  brick  walls  and  handsome  gates.  The 
front  and  rear  yards  were  80  by  280  feet.' 

West  Row,  the  next  oldest  range  of  brick  buildings,  on  the 
west  side  of  Court  street,  between  Hanover  street  and  Bow- 


*  The  height  of  the  Great  Tree  on  the  Common  is  65  feet ;  the  girth,  at  30  inches  from  the 
ground,  is  21  ft.  8  inches.    The  extent  of  the  branches  is  86  feet. 

t  The  new  State  house  was  first  occupied  by  the  Legislature  on  the  nth  of  January,  1798. 
The  several  branches  of  the  Gen.  Court  marched  in  procession  from  the  old  state  house,  and 
the  new  building  was  solemnly  dedicated  '  to  the  honour  of  God  and  the  people's  good.' 
Rev.  Dr.  Thacher  offered  the  dedicatory  prayer. 

j:  The  old  Alms  house,  Work  house  and  Bridewell,  together  with  the  Granary  were  situa- 
ted on  Park  Street.  The  Granary  was  a  long  wooden  building  at  the  corner  of  Common 
St.  capable  of  containing  12000  bushels  of  grain,  which  it  was  customary  for  a  committee, 
annually  appointed  by  the  town,  to  have  stored  in  it  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor  and 
otherswho  wished  to  purchase  in  small  quantities,  at  an  advance  on  the  wholesale  price  not 
exceeding  ten  per  cent.  The  Alms  house  was  a  two  story  brick  building,  in  the  form  of  an  L, 
with  a  gable  roof,  appropriated  to  the  aged  and  infirm  poor.  The  Work  house  was  a  large 
brick  building,  120  feet  long,  two  stories  high  with  a  gable  roof  for  the  reception  of  vagrant, 
idle  and  dissolute  persons.  Bridewell  was  contiguous  to  the  workhouse,  and  was  a  sort  of 
prison  for  the  disorderly  :  a  part  of  the  house  was  assigned  to  the  insane. 

The  first  proposal  for  an  Alms  house  on  the  Town  records  occurs  in  Nov.  1660.  In  Feb. 
1665,  a  person  is  admitted  into  the  Alms  house.  Dec.18, 1682,  the  Alms  house  being  burnt  a 
new  one  is  proposed :  it  was  building  June  2,  1686.    The  Work-house  was  built  in  1738. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  225 

doin  square,  was  erected  in  1800.  South  Row,  a  handsome 
block  of  stores  belonging  to  the  Old  South  church,  and  situate 
on  the  land  adjoining  it,  was  completed  about  the  same  time. 

On  the  16th  of  December,1801,  a  destructive  fire  happened 
in  Fish  and  Ann  streets.  It  commenced  in  a  large  wooden 
building  in  the  rear  of  [now]  No.  95,  Ann  st.  and  immediately 
communicated  to  the  houses  in  front.  Thence  it  extended 
north  on  the  east  side  of  Fish  street  to  Swett's  wharf,  consum- 
ing every  house.  On  the  west  side  of  Ann  street  no  house 
was  burnt,  although  the  street  was  then  ten  feet  narrower 
than  it  is  at  present ;  but  every  building  from  Cross  street  to 
the  one  opposite  Swett's  wharf  was  burnt,  or  pulled  down  to 
arrest  the  progress  of  the  flames.  The  next  year,  1802,  sev- 
eral brick  buildings  were  erected  on  the  ruins,  and  the  block 
on  the  west  side  of  Fish  street  received  the  name  of  North 
Row. 

The  law  to  prevent  the  erection  of  wooden  buildings  more 
than  ten  feet  high  was  passed  Feb.  9,  1803.  It  was  an  act  in 
addition  to  an  act  to  secure  the  town  of  Boston  from  damage 
by  fire,  and  its  provisions  were  so  faithfully  executed  that 
none  other  than  brick  or  stone  buildings  were  raised  from 
that  time,  until  the  recent  modification  of  the  law. 

The  town  land,  on  which  the  old  Alms  house  &c.  stood,  had 
been  sold  to  individuals  some  time  before  the  removal  of  the 
inmates  took  place,  and  very  shortly  after  that,  the  block  of 
four  buildings  on  Park  Street,  adjoining  the  meeting  house 
was  put  up.  So  far  as  we  can  ascertain  this  was  the  first  of 
the  improvements  near  the  State  house  and  common.  By  the 
fall  of  1804,the  houses  on  Beacon  street  at  the  corner  of  Park 
street  were  erected.  Hamilton  place  was  finished  in  1806, 
and  Bumstead  place  not  long  after.  Pinckney  street,  Myrtle 
street,  Hancock  street  and  the  whole  extent  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, which  in  1799  presented  a  dreary  waste  on  which  only 
three  decent  houses  were  to  be  seen,  began  to  present  the  ap- 
pearance of  improvement,  and  in  a  very  little  time  were  cover- 
ed with  extensive  ranges  of  some  of  the  best  houses  in  the 
town.  By  the  year  1806,  they  became  the  resort  of  wealth 
and  fashion,  and  subsequent  improvements  have  made  that 
neighbourhood  the  most  eligible  of  any  part  of  the  city. 

Beacon  hill  and  the  eminences  west  of  it  were  levelled,  and 
their  materials  served  to  fill  up  the  millpond,  which  the  mill 
proprietors  (the  successors  of  Henry  Simons,  &c.  see  p.  1 24) 
obtained  the  consent  of  the  town  to  do,  May  14,  1804.  The 
proprietors  had  been  incorporated,  by  the  name  of  the  Boston 
Mill  Corporation,  March,  9,  1804  ;  and  on  March  11th, 1806= 
certain  associates  were  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the 
Pond  Street  Corporation  '  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  street 
from  the  Boston  side  of  Charles  River  Bridge,  across  the  Mil! 


326  HISTORY    Of   BOSTON. 

Pond,  in  the  most  convenient  route  to  connect  with  Middle 
street,'  to  be  laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  as  a  publick  street  and 
to  be  at  least  60  ft.  wide.  That  street,  which  by  admeasure- 
ment is  1 980  ft.  in  length  was  commenced  without  delay.  The 
proprietors  having  made  arrangements  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  Baptist  churches  abutting  on  the  pond,  they  came 
to  a  definite  agreement  with  the  town  July  24,  1807,  that  the 
town,  *  waive  and  release  the  conditions  and  obligations  annex- 
ed to  the  said  original  grant,  for  a  just  and  valuable  consid- 
eration, and  that  the  premises  should  be  filled  up  and  made 
fit  for  building  by  excluding  the  water;  and  the  said  Propri- 
etors are  content  in  exchange  for  such  release  to  fill  up  and 
convert  the  premises  into  solid  land,  and  to  grant  and  confirm 
to  the  town  of  Boston- forever  an  estate  in  fee  simple,  in  and  to 
one  eighth  lot  so  filled  up,  of  every  tract  or  portion  of  the  prem- 
ises, which  shall,  within  twenty  years  from  this  date,  be  filled 
up  and  converted  into  solid  land,within  and  without  the  pres- 
ent existing  causeway,  and  one  undivided  moiety  of  every  lot 
or  portion  of  the  premises,  which  at  the  expiration  of  said 
term  shall  not  be  filled  up  and  converted  into  solid  land,  or 
boxed  out  in  a  manner  equivalent  to  filling  up.'  The  princi- 
pal part  of  the  pond  is  already  filled  up,  and  the  whole  super- 
ficies is  laid  out  into  squares  and  streets  of  convenient  breadth. 
Several  brick  buildings  were  early  erected  on  the  made  land, 
at  the  bottom  of  Friend  street  and  of  Cross  street.  The  New 
street  (as  Mill-pond-street,  G.  d.  35,  is  yet  familiarly  called) 
considerably  shortens  the  distance  between  Charlestown  and 
the  centre  of  Boston.*  A  canal  passing  through  the  mill- 
creek  unites  the  river  with  the  harbour,and  receives  the  boats 
from  Middlesex  canal  with  their  cargoes  of  wood,  stone  and 
produce.  When  the  pond  is  wholly  filled  up,  the  area  of  the 
peninsula  will  have  been  increased  about  43  acres. 

It  was  about  this  time  thatCopps'  hill  began  to  be  dug  away, 
and  a  few  brick  buildings  were  erected  in  Lynn-street,  in 
1806,  about  Hon.Wm.Gray's  whf.  and  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street.  These  were  the  principal  improvements  at  the 
north  part  of  the  town.  A  fire  which  happened,  Aug.  18th 
destroyed  six  houses,  between  Ann  (then  Fish)  st.  and  the 
North  square.  It  commenced  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
in  the  third  house  from  Mountfort's  corner.  Very  great  ex- 
ertions were  necessary  to  prevent  its  extending  across  the 
street  and  communicating  to  many  of  the  neighbouring  houses, 
which  at  that  time  were  all  of  wood  and  very  near  each  oth- 
er.    A  few  brick  buildings  have  risen  slowly  on  this  spot,  and 


*  Another  street  (Charlestown  st.  G.  d.  34,)  is  now  almost  completed,  by  which  that  dis- 
tance will  be  yet  more  diminished. 


HISTORY    OE    BOSTON.  327 

the  width  of  the  street  has  been  greatly  improved.  But  the 
the  prospect  of  gain  from  exertions  in  other  parts  of  the  town 
has  hitherto  been  so  much  brighter,  that  very  little  improve- 
ment has  yet  been  made  north  of  the  creek.  Here  and  there 
an  individual  has  erected  a  substantial  house,  and  not  a  few 
have  done  their  part  towards  rendering  the  general  appear- 
ance of  buildings  in  that  quarter  more  agreeable,  so  far  as 
that  could  be  effected  by  a  coat  of  paint. 

'  Sundry  persons,  proprietors  of  the  ship  yard,  and  of  certain 
wharves  and  fiats,  lying  on  the  harbour  of  Boston,  between 
Battery  March  street  and  State  st.  associated  for  the  purpose 
of  improving  said  land  and  laying  out  a  spacious  street  near 
the  harbour  through  their  estates,'  and  were  incorporated  for 
that  purpose,  Feb.  11,  1805,  by  the  name  of  the  Broad  Street 
Association.  While  the  plans  of  this  Association  were  pro- 
gressing, another  company  was  carrying  forward  India 
Wharf,  which  was  finished  before  Broad  Street  was  complet- 
ed. India  Street  extending  from  India  Wharf  to  the  head  of 
Long  Wrharf  was  the  next  improvement,  and  the  stores  and 
houses  on  them  all  were  ready  to  be  occupied  in  the  course 
of  1807,  '08,  and  509.  The  range  of  four-story  brick  stores 
and  dwelling-houses,  in  Broad-street,  measures  on  the  west 
side,  from  State-street  to  Purchase-street,  1373  feet,  in  a  line 
somewhat  circular.  Broad-street  is  70  ft.  in  width.  Custom- 
House  street,  in  which  the  Custom-House  stands,  measures 
194  ft.  from  Broad  to  India  street,  and  this  last  measures 
989  feet  from  Long-wharf  to  India-whf.  These  admeasure- 
ments give  an  idea  of  the  extent  of  space  rescued  from  the 
water,  and  converted  into  commodious  stores  and  dwellings. 

To  these  great  improvements  we  must  add,  in  the  same 
quarter,  that  of  Central- wharf,  which  was  completed  in  the 
year  1816.  It  extends  into  the  harbour,  from  India-street 
about  midway  between  Long  and  India  wharves,  and  is  1240 
feet  in  length,  and  150  in  width.  There  are  54  stores  on 
this  wharf,  four  stories  high.  There  is  a  spacious  hall  in  the 
centre,  over  which  is  erected  an  elegant  observatory.  The 
stores  are  fifty  feet  in  width,  and  stand  in  the  middle  of  the 
wharf,  so  that  there  is,  on  either  side,  the  best  of  accommoda- 
tion for  the  landing  and  delivery  of  merchandize.  It  has 
been  remarked,  that  for  extent,  convenience,  and  elegance 
combined,  Central-wharf  is  not  exceeded  by  any  in  the  com' 
mercial  world. 

While  these  undertakings  were  going  forward,  the  same 
great  projector  of  the  whole,  Mr.  Cotting,  had  his  mind  em- 
ployed on  another.  Between  the  foot  of  Cornhill  and  the 
northerly  end  of  Tremont-street,  in  a  straight  course,  there 
was  considerable  vacant  land  and  many  old  buildings  of  lit- 
tle value.     Possession  was  obtained  of  these  estates  by  pur- 


328  HISTORY    OF   HOSTON. 

chase,  and  a  street  48  ft.  in  width  was  laid  out,  in  as  direct  a 
course  as  the  unevenness  of  the  ground  would  permit.  In 
1817,  a  block  of  stores  was  erected  on  each  side,  which,  be- 
tween Cornhill  and  Court  st.  measure  432  ft.  in  length  on  the 
north  side,  and  436  on  the  south.  They  are  all  four  stories  high 
and  have  uniform  fronts.  The  stores  on  the  north  side  are 
marked  with  the  odd  numbers  (l  to  91)  and  those  on  the 
south  with  the  even  numbers,  (2  to  76)  the  chambers  in  each 
building  bearing  one  number,  and  the  store,  below,  the  odd  or 
even  number  next  in  order.  It  was  at  first  proposed  to  call 
this  avenue  New  Cornhill,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  being 
devoted  to  the  same  kinds  of  business  for  which  Cornhill  had 
so  long  been  celebrated  :  to  what  fancy  the  present  name  is 
to  be  attributed  we  know  not.* 

Immediately  on  the  completion  of  Market-street,  part  of 
the  building  at  the  east  end  of  Scollay's  buildings,  (long 
famous  as  Master  Carter's  school,  but  which  became  private 
property,  March  4,  1793)  was  taken  down,  to  make  the  pas- 
sage free  from  Tremont  street  into  Market-street.  In  the 
next  year,  Brattle  street  leading  E.  from  Court  st.  to  Dock 
square  by  the  rear  of  the  stores  on  Market  st.  was  opened,  and 
an  elegant  block  of  14  houses  built  on  the  north  side,  present- 
ing a  front  of  hammered  stone,  312  ft.  in  extent  and  four  sto- 
ries high.     This  was  the  first  stone  block  erected  in  the  town. 

While  these  changes  were  making  mostly  for  commercial 
purposes,  extensive  improvements  were  going  forward  in  oth- 
er parts  of  the  town,  to  accommodate  a  population  increasing 
in  wealth  and  numbers,  with  dwelling  houses  suited  to  their 
fancies  and  wants.  Fort  hill  was  put  into  repair  and  the  lots 
adjacent  sold  by  the  town  to  individuals,!  who  erected  the 
brick  block  called  Washington  place,  around  the  mall,  or  cir- 
cular green  which  is  a  walk  about  200  ft. in  diameter,lined  with 
double  rows  of  poplars.  North-Russell,Vine,and  Poplar  streets, 
and  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Massachusetts  Hospital  to  the 
Alms-house  in  Leverett  st. which  had  recently  been  marsh  and 
pasture  ground,  or  improved  only  for  Ropewalks,  were  con- 
verted into  building  lots  and  covered  with  fashionable  and 
substantial  houses.     Beacon  street  on    the   west  side   of  the 


*  The  stores  in  Market  Street  were  the  first  erected  on  granite  pillars,  a  *hing  now  so 
common.  Mr.  Tuckerman's  store  at  the  corner  of  Dock  sq.  and  Market  Row,  was  about 
the  first  in  which  the  improvement  was  attempted  (1820)  of  substituting  those  pillars  for  the 
original  brick  walls.  Extreme  caution  was  deemed  necessary,  and  the  work  occupied  almost 
a  whole  summer.  Market  Row,  which  is  a  continuation  of  similar  buildings  from  Market 
street  to  Dock  sq.  measures  118  feet,  making  the  whole  block  on  the  north  side  550  feet. 

t  The  town  empowered  the  Selectmen  to  dispose  of  the  Fort  hill  lots,  May  23, 1805,  and 
sales  were  made  to  Messrs.  Wells,  Bradbury,  Tuck,  Howland  and  others,  in  the  month  of 
June,  1806. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  329 

Common,  and  Colonnade  row  on  the  east,  (mostly  built  in 
1811,)  presented,  the  one  an  elegant  uniform  range  of  24  brick 
dwellings  four  stories  high,  and  the  other  an  irregular  series 
of  single  buildings  finished  in  a  varied  style,  according  to  the 
taste  of  the  individual  owners.  Besides  these  there  were  nu- 
merous other  courts,  rows,  squares,  and  places,  comprising 
from  six  to  twelve  or  more  modern  brick  houses,  erected  prior 
to  the  year  1822,  which  is  the  period  within  which  we  confine 
our  observations  in  this  chapter. 

There  were  also  erected  prior  to  this  period  several  edifices 
devoted  to  publick  purposes,  which  are  worthy  to  be  noted 
in  this  connection. 

The  Custom- House  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Custom- 
house street,  near  the  head  of  Central  wharf.  '  It  is  60  feet 
square  and  two  stories  in  height  exclusive  of  the  basement, 
which  is  divided  by  brick  walls  and  brick  arches  supporting 
the  different  passages  above.  The  lower  part  of  the  front  is 
built  of  stone  and  the  upper  part  of  brick,  with  a  colonnade 
60  feet  long  and  10  ft.  wide,  supported  by  10  stone  columns 
of  the  Doric  order,  14  feet  in  length.  The  floor  is  paved 
with  stone,  and  a  broad  flight  of  stone  steps  with  iron  railings 
leads  to  the  several  offices.  It  is  finished  with  a  stone  frieze 
and  cornice,  and  the  windows  ornamented  with  marble  dres- 
sings. The  front  is  crowned  by  a  pediment,  on  the  top  of 
which  is  a  spread  eagle.  The  basement  and  first  story  is  cal- 
culated for  the  storing  of  goods,  and  contains  a  number  of  com- 
partments occupied  by  the  house-keeper,  and  some  of  the 
under  officers.  The  upper  story  contains  6  rooms  20  feet 
high,  in  which  the  business  of  the  office  is  transacted.  The 
building  is  remarkably  welt  contrived  for  the  convenience  of 
business,  and  exhibits  a  chaste  and  elegant  specimen  of  archi- 
tecture.    It  cost  about  thirty  thousand  dollars.' 

The  Boston  Exchange  Coffee-House,  whose  name  desig- 
nates the  purposes  to  which  it  was  appropriated,  was  the  most 
capacious  building  and  most  extensive  establishment  of  ite- 
kind  in  the  U.  S.  The  early  history  of  this  structure  is  that 
of  an  unsuccessful  speculation,  which  involved  individuals  in 
ruin,  and  seriously  injured  a  large  portion  of  the  community. 
It  cost  the  projector,  and  through  him  the  publick,  upwards 
of  $500,000,  and  was  unfinished  when  he  failed.  In  other 
hands  it  was  completed  so  far  as  to  be  tenantable,  and  went 
into  operation  in  1808,  two  years  and  a  half  from  the  time  it 
was  commenced.* 


*  '  This  grand  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire,  on  Tuesday,  Nov.  3,  1818.    It  was  first  discov- 
ered near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  attick  story,  about  seven  in  the  evening,  and  before 
Tea  o'clock  the  whole  building  was  reduced  to  a  melancholy  heap  of  ruins,    The  snost  spir- 
49 


330  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

'  The  E.  C.  H.  was  an  immense  pile  of  building,  7  stories 
in  height,  with  a  cellar  under  the  whole,  and  covering  12,753 
square  feet  of  ground.  Its  shape  was  an  irregular  square,  or 
that  of  an  irregular  triangle  cut  off  at  the  acute  angle,  meas 
uring  132  feet  in  its  broadest  front,  and  only  94  feet  on  its 
narrowest,  from  which  the  line  of  the  sides  diverged  nearly 
equally.  The  base  of  the  building  was  of  hammered  granite 
and  the  basement  of  white  marble. 

'  The  front  in  Congress-street  was  highly  ornamented.  Six 
marble  pilasters,  of  the  Ionic  order,  upon  a  rustic  basement 
supported  an  architrave  and  cornice  of  the  same  ;  and  the 
whole  front,  which  had  an  arched  door  way,  was  crowned 
with  a  Corinthian  pediment.'  On  this  side  there  were  48 
superb  Venetian  windows.  There  was  another  entrance  to- 
wards State-street,  through  an  lonick  porch  or  vestibule,  and 
this  front  was  ornamented  with  ten  lonick  pilasters,  and  light- 
ed by  58  windows.  There  was  also  an  entrance,  for  the 
lodgers  in  the  hotel,  on  Salter's  court,  having  a  passage  for 
the  ingress  and  egress  of  carriages.  From  this  door  there 
was  a  circular  stair-case,  elegantly  decorated,  which  led 
without  interruption  to  the  attick  story.  There  was  also  a 
communication  from  Devonshire-street,  through  an  adjoining 
house. 

'  Upon  entering  the  house,  you  stood  on  an  interior  area  70 
feet  in  length  and  40  ft.  wide,  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram, 
which  was  lighted  from  the  top  by  means  of  a  magnificent 
dome,  100  ft.  10  inches  in  diameter.  Around  this  area  was 
extended  a  portico,  or  rather  several  porticos,  each  consisting 
of  20  columns,  which  reached  from  the  ground  floor  to  the 
roof,  and  supported  five  galleries  leading  to  the  different  apart- 
ments. The  height  of  the  top  of  the  dome  from  the  floor  was 
83  feet.  Here  was  an  assemblage  of  the  different  orders  of 
architecture,  from  the  ornamental  Doric  to  the  Corinthian, 
which  produced  a  very  agreeable  impression  upon  the  eyes 
of  the  spectator,  as  he  passed  from  the  dome  which  surmount- 


ited  and  judicious  efforts  could  only  give  a  temporary  check  to  the  flames,  which  were  has- 
tily working  their  way  behind  the  partition  walls  and  round  the  cornices,  in  places  beyond 
reach.  In  a  very  short  time,  the  greater  part  of  the  210  halls,  rooms,  chambers,  &c.  exhib- 
ited a  mass  of  intense  fire  seldom  witnessed.  About  9  o'clock  the  noble  dome  came  down 
with  a  frightful  crash,  and,  soon  after,  nearly  all  the  north  and  part  of  the  south  walls,  each 
more  than  80  feet  in  height,  fell,  and  damaged  many  of  the  neighbouring  buildings.  Several 
houses  were  much  damaged, but  none  wholly  burnt  out,  except  the  one  on  Devonshire-street,  ad- 
joining the  Exchange.  On  Wednesday  morning,  the  w  bole  isolated  front  w  all  of  the  ruin,  90 
feet  high  by  80  ft.  wide,  with  its  marble  columns  and  chimnies,  appeared  to  stand  tottering 
over  the  people's  heads,  and  threatened  in  its  fall  to  overwhelm  the  buildings  opposite,  which 
stood  at  the  distance  of  28  feet  only  from  the  wall.  But  in  the  course  of  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding day  they  were  levelled,  without  the  least  damage  to  the  neighbourhood  or  to  tbs 
thousands  of  spectators,  who  wereHvitnesses  to  this  sublime  wreck  of,  matter.' 


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HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  331 

ed  the  whole,  to  the  floor  upon  which  he  stood.  The  interior 
space  was  as  nearly  as  possible  equi-distant  from  the  sides  of 
the  structure  ;  and  the  apartments,  which  surrounded  it  upon 
the  various  stories,  amounted  to  about  210. 

'  The  house  was  divided  into  two  species  of  rooms  ;  those 
which  belonged  to  the  hotel,  and  those  which  were  rented  for 
offices  and  shops  to  individuals.  The  basement  story  con- 
sisted chiefly  of  an  extensive  kitchen,  private  lodging  rooms, 
larder,  and  the  cellars,  with  some  offices  that  were  entered 
from  the  street.  The  principal  floor  was  originally  intended 
for  a  public  Exchange,  which  design  never  was  executed,  as 
the  merchants  from  long  habit,  prefer  to  stand  in  the  street, 
even  during  the  inclement  winter  months.  A  publick  read- 
ing room,  with  a  very  large  list  of  subscribers,  was  also  upon 
this  floor,  where  the  lodgers  in  the  hotel  had  the  privilege  ot 
resorting,  and  in  which  was  regularly  kept  a  journal  of  the 
most  interesting  occurrences  of  the  times,  whether  of  a  politi- 
cal or  commercial  nature.  A  convenient  Coffee  room,  a  Bar 
and  withdrawing-room  for  boarders,  were  also  on  this  floor; 
besides  various  apartments  occupied  by  publick  incorporations 
and  private  individuals.  On  the  second  floor  chiefly  devoted 
to  the  hotel,  upon  the  southern  side,  there  was  a  dining  room 
sufficiently  spacious  to  admit  tables  for  three  hundred  per- 
sons;  about  fourteen  other  apartments  comprised  the  whole 
of  the  second  story. 

'  The  third  and  fourth  floors  belonged  to  the  tavern.  An 
arched  ball-room,  finished  with  great  taste  in  the  Corinthian 
order  of  architecture,  extended  through  both  stories,  and  was 
placed  immediately  over  the  large  dining  hall.  The  other 
apartments  on  these  floors  were  either  connected  with  the  ball 
room,  or  were  lodging  chambers. 

'  Upon  the  northern  side  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  floors,  a 
large  Masonick  Hall  was  formed  from  a  large  number  of  lodg- 
ing rooms,  which  were  included  in  the  apartments  which 
we  have  just  enumerated.  The  other  rooms  were  appropri- 
ated for  lodging  chambers,  with  the  exception  of  an  obser- 
vatory on  the  sixth  floor,  connected  with  the  news  room  be- 
low.* 

The  Stone  Court-House  in  Court-square,  to  which  for 
distinction's  sake  we  have  given  the  name  of  Johnson  Hall 
on  our  plate,  (with  reference  to  the  memory  of  Isaac  Johnson 
esq.  whom  we  have  mentioned  as  a  chief  patron  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Boston,  see  p.  37,)  was  built  in  1810.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  consisting  of  an  octagon  centre,  55  ft.  wide,  with 
two  wings,  26  by  40  feet,  connected  by  the  entrance  and  pas- 
sages to  the  centre.     The  length  of  the  whole  building  is  140 

*  For  a  more  particular  account  of  the  E.C.II.  see  Omnium  Gatherum,  Nov.  1809. 


332  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

ft.  The  lower  story  of  the  centre  is  improved  by  the  Regis- 
ter of  Deeds,  and  Clerk  of  the  C.  C.  P. —  the  second  story  by 
the  County  Courts,  and  the  upper  by  the  Common  Council  of 
the  city.  The  JVlaj'or  and  Aldermen's  room  is  in  the  upper 
story  of  the  western  wing  ;  under  that  are  the  offices  of  the 
Auditor  and  City  Marshal,  and  on  the  lower  floor  the  Probate 
Office.  In  the  eastern  wing  are  the  offices  of  the  Clerk  of  the 
S.  J.  Court,  rooms  for  the  judges  and  for  the  juries,  and  one 
occupied  by  the  Law  Library. 

Boylston  Hall,  situated  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Boylston  st.  was  so  named  in  honour  of  Ward  Nicholas 
Boylston  esq.  It  was  opened  in  1810.  It  is  in  length  120  ft. 
and  in  width  50  feet,  of  three  stories,  with  a  deep  cellar.  On 
the  first  floor  are  twelve  stalls  for  the  sale  of  provisions.  The 
second  is  separated  by  an  avenue  running  lengthwise,  on  the 
sides  of  which  are  four  spacious  rooms.  The  third  story  con- 
sists of  a  hall  100  feet  in  length  with  the  entire  width  of  the 
building.  The  central  height  of  the  ceiling  is  24  feet.  It 
contains  an  orchestra,  and  two  convenient  withdrawing-rooms 
adjoining.* 

Parkman's  Market,  so  called,  is  a  large  brick  building  at 
the  corner  of  Grove  and  Cambridge-streets,  distinguished  by 
a  cupola.  It  was  erected  by  the  late  Samuel  Parkman,  esq. 
for  the  purpose  of  a  market  to  accommodate  the  population  in 
that  neighbourhood.     It  was  built  in  the  fall  of  1810. 

The  City  Market,  so  called,  at  the  end  of  Brattle-street 
next  to  Dock-square,  is  also  an  extensive  brick  building,  three 
stories  high.  The  lower  story  and  cellars  were  appropriated 
to  the  sale  of  provisions.  The  Gallery  of  Fine  Arts  was  kept  in 
the  rooms  above.  This  building  was  erected  by  private  cit- 
izens in  the  year  1819:  the  town  had  opposed  their  wish  to 
be  incorporated  and  their  application  to  the  General  Court 
was  in  consequence  unsuccessful.  The  city  has  since  refused 
to  accept  the  building  as  a  donation,  and  a  furniture  ware- 
house is  now  kept  in  the  part  formerly  occupied  as  a  market. 

We  have  thus  endeavoured  to  give  a  general  view  of  the 
principal  local  changes,  which  took  place  under  the  town  gov- 
ernment. It  will  be  our  aim  to  render  that  view  more  definite, 
as  we  proceed  to  the  edifices  which  have  been  devoted  to  fash- 
ionable amusements,  or  to  the  more  sober  purposes  of  relig- 
ious worship,  education,  and  charity. 


*  '  The  proprietors  were  incorporated  Feb.  27,  1809,  and  the  foundation  of  the  building1 
was  commenced  in  the  April  following.  The  land  belonging  to  the  corporation  was  for- 
merly owned  by  Sam'l  Welles  esq.  of  whose  heirs  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Jos.  C.  Dyer, 
and  by  him  conveyed  to  the  present  proprietors  for  §20,560.  The  cost  of  the  building  was 
about  $39,000,  beside  the  cupola,  which  was  built  by  subscription.  The  clock  was  a  dona 
tion  of  Mr.  Boylston. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  333 


CHAPTER  LVIT. 

This  is  the  place  as  well  as  I  may  guess 
Whence  even  now  the  tumult  of  loud  mirth 
Was  rife,  and  perfect  in  my  listening-  ear: 

a  thousand  fantasies 
Begin  to  throng  into  my  memory, 
Of  calling  shapes  and  beckoning  shadows  dire. 

Comus,  A  Mash. 

The  puritan  spirit  of  our  ancestors  was  transfused  into  the 
first  and  second  generations  which  succeeded  them  :  nothing 
like  the  fashionable  amusements  of  our  day  found  any  coun- 
tenance with  them.  A  third  and  fourth  generation  became 
by  degrees  a  little  more  lax  in  manners  and  sentiments,  and  the 
fifth  had  so  far  thrown  off  restraint  as  to  look  upon  balls  and 
assemblies  without  much  abhorrence.  Probably,  the  inter- 
course, which  under  the  royal  government  was  constantly  ta- 
king place  between  our  people  and  officers  of  the  army  and 
navy  from  England,  may  have  tended  to  introduce  this 
change.  '  In  the  year  1756.  Concert  Hall,  a  handsome  build- 
ing at  the  head  of  Hanover-street,  was  erected  by  Mr.  Ste- 
phen Deblois.  a  musician,  for  the  purposes  of  concerts,  danc- 
ing, and  other  entertainments.  A  few  years  ago  the  build- 
ing was  enlarged,  and  improved  at  a  great  expense.  The 
front  hall  is  about  60  feet  by  30,  in  the  second  story,  and  is 
justly  admired  for  its  correct  proportions  and  the  richness  oi 
its  architecture.  It  is  highly  finished  in  the  Corinthian  style, 
with  an  orchestra,  and  the  walls  are  ornamented  with  superb 
mirrors.  In  the  rear  is  another  hall  on  the  same  story,  finish- 
ed in  a  plainer  style,  and  well  calculated  for  publick  enter- 
tainments, and  large  parties.' 

Federal-Street  Theatre  was  erected  about  the  same  time 
with  theTontine  buildings.  Strenuous  opposition  had  been  made 
to  the  introduction  of  theatrical  exhibitions  into  Boston.  The 
first  attempt  of  the  kind,  in  1750  (see  Minot,  Hist,  of  Mass.  i. 
142)  was  followed  by  a  law  of  the  Province  prohibiting  them 
under  penalties.  During  the  siege  the  British  officers  enter- 
tained themselves  with  amusements  of  a  theatrical  sort.  From 
that  time  we  discover  no  traces  of  a  theatre  in  Boston  till 
1739,  when  the  newspapers  contain  intimations  of  a  design  to 
establish  one.  While  the  prohibitory  laws  remained  in  force- 
it  was  unsafe  to  proceed  openly  :  an  effort  was  made  to  repeal 
them  in  the  winter  session  of  1792,  which  failed,  and  the  ex- 
pedient of  exhibiting  plays  under  the  title  of  Moral  Lectures* 


334  HISTOllY    OF    BOSTON. 

was  therefore  adopted  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  The  place  of 
performance  was  'the  New  Exhibition  Room  in  Board-alley ,' 
(now  Hawley-street.)  A  majority  of  the  town  had  favoured 
the  petition  for  a  repeal  of  the  prohibitory  laws,  '  as  unconsti- 
tutional, inexpedient,  and  absurd,'  and  the  patronage  of  the 
Exhibition  Room  was  so  liberal,  that  the  plan  of  erecting  a 
commodious  brick  building,  purposely  for  a  theatre,  was  easi- 
ly carried  into  execution.  A  lofty  and  spacious  edifice  was 
built  on  Federal  and  Franklin  streets,  140  feet  long,  61  wide, 
and  40  feet  in  height.*  ft  was  opened  on  the  3d  of  February, 
1794,  with  the  tragedy  of  Gustavus  Vasa  Erickson,  the  deliv- 
erer of  Sweden.  Mr.  Charles  Stuart  Powell  was  manager. 
'  In  consequence  of  a  misunderstanding  between  Mr.  P.  and 


*  This  summer  (1825)  an  addition  has  been  made  to  the  west  end  of  the  building;,  of  about 
12  feet,  and  corresponding  improvements  in  the  interior. 

The  following  memoranda  may  be  gratifying  to  the  lovers  of  the  Drama. 

1797. — Mr.  Williamson  having  failed  as  Manager  of  the  Federal  street  Theatre,  it  was 
taken  by  Messrs.  Barrett  and  Harper.  During  the  season  this  Theatre  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
on  the  afternoon  of  Feb.  2,  1798.  Pvlessrs  B.  and  H.  applied  for  the  use  of  the  Haymarket 
Theatre  and  were  refused. 

Oct.  29th,  1798. — The  Theatre,  having  been  rebuilt,  was  opened  under  the  management 
of  Mr.  Hodgkinson.  The  pieces  performed  were  a  Prelude,  called  '  The  First  Night's 
Apology,  or  All  in  a  Bustle,'  '  Wives  as  they  Were,'  and  the  '  Purse.' 

April  29tb,  1799. — Mr.  Hodgkinson,  having  failed  in  the  Federal  street  concern,  removed 
the  Company  to  the  Haymarket  Theatre,  which  he  opened  with  the  'Stranger,'  and  'Ply- 
mouth Rock.'     This  was  the  last  season  Mr.  Hodgkinson  performed  in  Boston. 

Oct.  1799. — Theatre  opened  under  the  management  of  Mr.  G.  L.Barrett,  with  tbe  Comedy 
of  '  Laugh  when  you  Can.'    Mr.  B.  failed  before  the  season  expired. 

Oct.  27th,  1800. — Theatre  opened  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Whitlock,  who,  after  ex- 
periencing a  loss  of  about  §4000,  relinquished  the  concern.  This  season  introduced  to  a 
Boston  audience  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Jones. 

Nov.  30th,  1801 — The  Theatre  was  opened  under  tbe  joint  management  of  Messrs.  Powell 
and  Harper.     '  The  School  for  Scandal,'  and  'Poor  Soldier,'  were  the  entertainments. 

Oct.  27th,  1802 — The  Theatre  opened  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Snelling  Powell,  with 
the  '  Poor  Gentleman,'   and  '  Purse.' 

The  Theatre  continued  under  the  sole  management  of  Mr.  Snelling  Powell,  until  Oct.  1806, 
when  it  was  opened  under  the  joint  management  of  Messrs. Powell,  Bernard,  and  Dickson, 
who  continued  it  till  1 81  l,when  Mr.Bernard  relinquished  his  part,  and  Messrs.Powell  and  Dick- 
son retained  the  management  of  it  for  11  years.  In  1816-17,  Mr.  D.  retired  from  the  stage, 
and  has  performed  only  twice  since ;  in  April,  1819,  he  appeared  in  the  character  of  Hardy, 
in  the  '  Belle's  Stratagem,'  and  Oglow,  in  '  Timour  the  Tartar,' for  Mrs.  Powell's  benefit: 
and  in  May,  1821,  he  performed  Sir  Robert  Bramble,  in  the  '  Poor  Gentleman,*  Will  Steady, 
in  the  '  Purse,'  and  Tag,  in  the  '  Spoil'd  Child  :'  this  was  likewise  for  the  benefit  of  Mrs. 
Powell,  who  was  prevented  from  appearing  before  her  friends  on  that  occasion,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Powell,  which  occurred  the  previous  month. 

Mr.  Dickson,  although  he  retired  from  the  stage,  continued  in  the  management.  The  sea- 
son of  1817  commenced  under  the  joint  direction  of  Messrs.  Powell,  Dickson,  and  Duff":  this 
connexion  continued  for  three  years,  when  Mr.  DufF  relinquished  his  share  in  the  concern. 

After  the  lamented  decease  of  Mr.  Powell,  (April  8,  1821,)  the  management  de- 
volved upon  Mr.  D.  (for  Mrs.  Powell,  who  was  principally  interested,  and  himself,)  aided  by 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON,  33t> 

the  proprietors,  Col.  J.  S.  Tyler  was  appointed  to  the  manage- 
ment, but  not  succeeding,  he  relinquished  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  Brown  Williamson. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Powell  raised  by  sub- 
scription a  sum  sufficient  to  build  of  wood  the  Haymarket  The- 
atre, which  was  one  of  the  most  spacious  and  convenient  ever 
erected  in  America.'  It  was  located  near  the  foot  of  the 
Mall,  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  three-story  buildings, 
next  south  of  Colonnade-row.  The  house  was  opened,  Dec. 
26,  1  796,  with  an  Occasional  Address,  written  and  delivered 
by  Mr.  C.  S.  Powell,  which  was  followed  by  the  Comedy  of 
the  Belle's  Stratagem,  in  which  Mr.  Dickinson,  (since  J.  A. 
Dickson,  the  late  Manager,)  appeared  upon  the  stage  for  the 
first  time.  -The  afterpiece  was  a  grand  pantomime  called 
Mirza  and  Lindor,  performed  by  a  French  Corps  du  Ballet. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  Mrs.  Darley  made  her  debut  as  Nar- 
cissa  in  '  Inkle  and  Yarico.' 

Haymarket  Theatre  was  discontinued  in  the  course  of  a 
few  years,  and  no  other  was  established  until  the  year  1819, 
when  the  entertainments  at  Washington  Gardens  were  com- 
menced. At  first  the  managers  of  the  Federal-street  house 
were  interested  in  the  performances  at  the  Amphitheatre,  but 
in  a  short  time  the  control  over  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
of  several  amateurs,  and  the  two  institutions  became  in  some 
sort  rivals  to  each  other.  The  Amphitheatre  was  so  con- 
structed as  to  answer  the  purposes  of  a  Circus,!  and  was  on 
that  account  better  adapted  to  the  performance  of  such  plays 
as  required  the  introduction  of  troops  and  caravans,  a  happy 
invention  for  supplying  the  defects  to  which  the  best  select- 
ed companies  may  sometimes  be  liable,  not  unknown  in  Ad- 
dison's day,  but  not  demanded  till  recently  to  please  a  Boston 
audience. 

The  Museum  was  commenced  in  Boston  by  the  exhibition 
of  a  few  specimens  of  wax-work,  at  the  American  Coffee-house, 
opposite  the    Bunch-of-Grapes  in   Slate-street.     The  proprie- 


Mr.  Kilner,  as  Acting  Manager ;  this  continued  until  the  expiration  of  their  lease  from  the 
proprietors,  in  May,  1824. 

The  next  season,  in  Sept.  1824,  Messrs.  Kilner  and  Finn  undertook  the  management,  for 
themselves  and  Blrs.  Powell,  on  a  lease  of  three  years. 

It  is  a  fact,  worthy  of  record,  aDd  highly  creditable  to  the  Managers,  that,  from  the  time 
of  Mr.  Powell's  undertaking  the  management,  until  the  present  date,  there  never  has  been  an 
instance  known  of  a  performer's  salary,  a  tradesman's  bill,  or  any  other  demand  against 
the  Theatre  being  refused  payment.  This  punctuality  has  given  a  respectability  and  credit 
to  the  establishment,  that  is  not  surpassed  by  any  other  in  this  country  or  in  England. 

t  Messrs.  Pepin  and  Breschard  had  established  a  regular  Circus  in  Charlestown  in  1809  : 
and  the  Circus  at  the  Washington  Gardens  lias  been  occasionally  used  for  that  specifick  ob- 
ject. There  was  also  a  Circus  by  Lailson  in  1796,  and  ten  years  before  that,  the  Selectmen 
had  granted  a  licence  for  the  exhibition  of  feats  of  horsemanship. 


336  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

tor  was  Mr.  Daniel  Bowen,  whose  collection  received  very 
handsome  notice  in  the  papers  of  June.  1791.  It  was  soon 
removed  to  '  the  hall  over  the  New  School-house  near  the 
Rev.  Mr.  West's  meeting  :'  additions  of  natural  and  artificial 
curiosities,  paintings,  &c.  were  constantly  made  to  the  collec- 
tion till  1795,  when  it  assumed  the  name  of  Columbian  Museum, 
and  was  established  '  at  the  head  of  the  Mall  [on  the  corner 
of  Bromfield's  lane],  in  the  longest  and  perhaps  the  most  ele- 
gant hall  in  the  United  States.'  This  establishment  rose  in 
value  and  in  publick  estimation,  and  became  a  fashionable  re- 
sort, till  Jan.  15,  1803,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  liberality  of  the  publick  and  the  aid  of  private  friends 
enabled  Mr.  Bowen  to  commence  another  museum,  at  the 
corner  of  Milk  and  Oliver  streets,  in  the  succeeding  May •  In 
1806,  Mr.  B.  in  connexion  with  Mr.  Wm.  M.  S.  Doyle  erect- 
ed a  costly  brick  edifice,  five  stories  high,  on  the  lot  north  of 
the  Chapel  burial  ground,  and  removed  the  collection,  which 
had  now  become  splendid,  to  that  place,  which  was  opened 
for  company,  on  Thanksgiving  evening,  Nov.  27th.  Here 
they  were  doomed  again  to  suffer  disappointment.  On  the 
morning  of  Jan.  16,  1807,  a  fire  was  discovered  in  the  hall 
over  the  Museum,  and  in  a  very  short  time  all  its  valuable 
contents  were  consumed.*  The  proprietors,  however,  were 
not  wholly  disheartened  With  some  encouragement  from 
the  publick  they  rebuilt  the  house  to  the  height  of  two  stories, 
and  opened  it  on  the  2d  of  June,  1807.  Mr.  B.  some  time  af- 
ter removed  from  Boston,  and  Mr.  Doyle  continued  the  sole 
manager,  until  the  collection  was  sold  to  the  proprietors  of 
the  New  England  Museum,  (Jan.  1,  1825.) 

The  Boston  Museum  was  advertised  as  '  just  opened,'  by 
Ph.  Woods,  at  the  large  five-story  building  over  No.  6,  north 
side  of  the  market,  Feb.  28,  1804.  A  considerable  number 
of  interesting  curiosities  were  collected  in  this  Museum,  but  it 
never  became  so  fashionable  a  place  of  resort  as  the  Colum- 
bian. It  was  removed  for  a  short  time  to  a  building  on  the 
west  side  of  Dock-square,  but  was  returned  to  its  original 
stand,  where  it  was  sold  at  auction  in  the  summer  of  1822. 
Chief  of  the  articles  were  transferred  to  the  New  England 
Museum. 

A  collection  called  the  Washington  Museum  was  for  a 
short  time  exhibited  here  in  1804. 

The  New  York  Museum,  was  opened  in  Boylston  Hall,  in 
1812.  This  latter  was  the  commencement  of  the  New  England, 
which   is  now  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind  in  Boston. 


*  This  building-  was  108  feet  long1,  and  34  ft.  wide.      The   height  was  82  feet   from   the 
basement  floor  to  the  top  of  the  observatory,  which  was  surmounted  by  a  figure  of  Minerva. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  337 

It  is  situated  on  Court  street,  occupying  the  chambers  over 
several  stores,  extending  from  Market  to  Brittle  street.  The 
collection  is  the  most  extensive  ever  brought  together  here, 
both  in  point  of  excellence  and  variety.  Mr.  E.  A.  Greenwood 
has  had  the  superintendance  of  it,  since  it  assumed  its  present 
appellation,  under  which  it  was  opened,  July  4,  1818.  Mr. 
Mix's    New  Haven  Museum  was  added  to  it,  in  1821. 

It  is  not  foreign  from  our  purpose  to  state,  that  this  museum 
contains,  besides  its  curiosities  of  a  general  character,  a  plan 
of  Boston,  engraved  by  Price  in  1743;  likenesses  of  the 
following  persons, whose  names  occur  in  this  book  :  viz.  Gov. 
Winthrop,  Endicot,  Leverett,  Bradstreet  (from  the  paintings 
in  the  State-house),  Hancock,  S.  Adams,  Bowdoin,  Gen.War-? 
ren,  Franklin,  Gen.  Ward,  R.  T.  Paine,  John  Adams,  J.  Q. 
Adams, — and  of  the  following  distinguished  citizens  ;  Rev.Drs. 
Cooper,  Stillman,  Lathrop.  Baldwin,  Holley,  and  Griffin,— 
Messrs.  Ballou,  Buckminster,  Huntington,  Frothingham,  VVin- 
chell,  and  Dean  ;  Dr.  Jeffries,  Benjamin  Austin,  Isaiah  Thom- 
as; William  Cooper,  Mr.  John  Tileston,  Miss  Hannah  Adams, 
together  with  prints  of  many  other  eminent  persons. 


CHAPTER  LVTII. 

How  all  religions  should  enjoy  their  liberty,  justice  its  due  regularity,  civil  cohabitation 
moral  honesty,  in  one  and  the  same  jurisdiction,  is  beyond  the  artique  of  my  comprehen- 
sion.— Simple  Cooler,  A.  D.  1647. 

The  churches  of  Boston  had  been  thrown  into  great  confu- 
sion by  the  events  of  the  war.  Five  of  their  houses  of  wor- 
ship had  been  transformed  into  barracks  or  hospitals,  or  in 
some  way*  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  British  troops.  All 
'heir  pastors  who  were  friendly  to  the  American  cause  (except 
Dr.  Samuel  Mather  and  Dr.  Andrew  Eliot)  had  deemed  it 
prudent  to  leave  the  town  during  the  siege.  The  clergymen 
of  the  three  Episcopal  churches  fled  with  Gen.  Howe  on  the 
memorable  17th  of  March,  1776,  and  Dr.  Byles  of  Hollis- 
street  was  dismissed,  in  1777,  by  his  people,  on  account  of  his 
supposed  predilection  for  the  royal  cause.  Mr.  Moorhead's 
church  was  vacant,    and   Mr.  Croswell's  meeting-house  was 


*  The  desecration  of  the  Old  South  excited  universal  indignation.  To  fit  it  for  the  pur- 
poses of  a  circus  for  the  dragoons,  'every  moveable  part  within  the  walls  (except  the  sound- 
ing board  over  the  pulpit,  and  the  east  gallery,  which  was  left  to  accommodate  spectators) 
was  taken  down,  pillars,  pews,  galleries,  and  pulpit.  About  1  and  o  half  or  2  feet  af  earth 
was  spread  upon  the  floor,  for  the  horses  to  exercise  upon.' 

43 


338  history  or  boston. 

untenantable  during  the  winter  season.  The  Old  North,  we 
know,  had  been  entirely  destroyed,  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Pem- 
berton,  the  pastor  of  the  New  Brick,  had  deceased,  Sept.  15, 
1777. 

The  first  change  consequent  on  this  state  of  things  was  the 
union  of  the  Old  North  and  New  Brick  churches,  under  the 
name  of  the  Second  Church.  This  event  took  place  June  27, 
1779  ;  Rev.  John  Lathrop  then  became  pastor  of  both  socie- 
ties. 

The  Old  South  church  were  accommodated  in  King's  chapel, 
until  they  were  ready  to  remove  to  their  own  house.*  At  length 
the  remaining  proprietors  of  the  Chapel  determined  to  re- 
store their  former  mode  of  worship,  and  invited  Rev.  James 
Freeman  to  perform  divine  services  in  their  desk.  Mr.  F. 
accepted  their  invitation,  and  commenced  Reader,  Oct.  20, 
1782.  The  society  adopted  the  Unitarian  liturgy,  altered 
from  the  common  prayer  book  of  the  Church  of  England, 
after  the  plan  of  Dr  Samuel  Clarke.  On  Lord's-day,  Nov. 
18,  1787.  after  evening  service,  Mr.  Freeman  was  ordained 
as  Rector,  Priest,  &c.  by  the  wardens,  vestry,  proprietors, 
and  congregation  of  the  Chapel,  w  by  virtue  of  the  third  arti- 
cle in  the  declaration  of  rights,'  which  provides  that  religious 
societies  shall  at  all  times  have  the  exclusive  right  of  electing 
their  publick  teachers.  A  minority  protested  against  this  meas- 
ure, because  the  new  proprietors  had  'introduced  a  liturgy  dif- 
ferent from  any  now  used  in  the  Episcopal  churches  in  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  articles  of  faith  which,'  say  they,  '  in  our  opin- 
ion, are  unscriptural  and  heretical.'  Another  '  protest  or  ex- 
communication' was  also  issued  on  the  same  subject,  by  the 
rectors  of  Episcopal  churches  in  Boston,  Salem,  Marblehead, 
Newburyport,  and  Portsmouth,  who  pronounced  the  mode  of 
ordination  ;  diametrically  opposite  to  every  principle  adopted 
in  any  Episcopal  church.'t  The  society,  however,  has  pur- 
sued the  course  of  its  own  choosing,  and  though  discounte- 
nanced by  the  Episcopal  churches,  its  rectors  hold  ministerial 
intercourse  with  the  members  of  the  Boston  Association. 

The  origin  of  the  denomination  of  Universalists  in  America 
was  in  the  year  1770.  Mr.  John  Murray  commenced  preach- 
ing near  New  York  ;  visited  Philadelphia,  and  several  parts 
of  New  Jersey  ;  came  in  1 773  to  Newport  and  thence  to  Bos- 
ton, where  he  arrived  on  the  26th  of  October.  He  delivered 
his  first  discourse  on  the  30th,  in  the  hall  over  the  Factory.  In 
September  1 774,  Mr.Murray  made  another  visit,  and  preached 
sometimes  at  a  private  house,  sometimes  in  Faneuil-hall,  at  the 


*  From  Nov.  9,  1777,  to  Feb.  23,  1783. 

t  See  Centinel,  Nov.  24, 1787,  and  Jan.  2, 1788. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  339 

Factory,  or  at  Masons'-hall,  and  at  length  was  admitted  into 
Mr.  Croswell's  pulpit,  not,  however,  without  strenuous  oppo- 
sition from  Mr.  C.  A  society  was  gradually  gathered  under 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Murray  and  Mr.  Adam  Streeter,  '  and 
other  preachers  of  the  universal  gospel  of  salvation  to  all 
mankind;'  and  on  the  29th  of  Dec.  1785,  Messrs.  Shippie 
ToWnsend,  James  Prentiss,  Jona.  Stoddard,  John  Page,  and 
Josiah  Snelling,  ('  being  a  committee  appointed  by  a  Chris- 
tian congregation  commonly  called  Universalists,  now  meeting 
in  the  said  house1)  purchased  the  meeting-house  then  recently 
vacated  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Sam'l  Mather.  Mr.  Murray  was 
installed  over  this  society,  Oct.  24,  1793.  The  solemnities 
of  the  occasion  were  introduced  by  Dea.  Oliver  W.Lane,  who 
addressed  the  brethren  of  the  church  and  congregation.  Mr. 
M.  prayed.  Then  Dea.  L.  asked  of  each  party  a  publick 
recognition  of  their  acceptance  of  each  other  as  pastor  and 
people,  which  being  signified,  the  deacon  proceeded  thus  :  '  I 
therefore,  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  this  church  and  congre- 
gation, supported  by  the  constitution  of  this  commonwealth, 
declare  you,  John  Murray,  to  be  the  pastor  and  teacher  of 
this  first  Universal  church  in  Boston.'  Dea.  L.  then  present- 
ed a  bible  to  Mr.  M.  with  the  pledge  that,  so  long  as  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  the  gospel  as  therein  delineated,  be  should 
be  considered  their  pastor  and  teacher,  and  no  longer ; 
and  concluded  with  the  charge  of  Paul  to  Timothy,  usually 
introduced  on  such  occasions.  Mr.  M.  made  an  affectionate 
reply  ;  then  followed  singing  accompanied  by  the  organ.  Mr. 
Murray  gave  a  sermon  from  1  Cor.  ix.  16.  Woe  is  unto  me 
if  I  preach,  not  the  gospel,  and  the  services  were  concluded  with 
an  anthem. 

The  society,  known  as  the  Presbyterian  church,  which  had 
been  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Robert  Annan,  from 
1783  to  1786,  embraced  the  Congregational  order,  and  thus 
became  the  Twelfth  Congregational  church.  We  have  dis- 
covered no  record  of  this  fact,  but  it  probably  was  made 
known  in  a  formal  manner  on  the  day  of  the  installation  of 
their  first  pastor,  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  April,  4,  1787,  con- 
cerning which  we  find  the  following  account.  '  After  a  large 
and  respectable  council  of  churches,  assembled  on  the  occa- 
sion, had  taken  the  steps  usually  previous  to  such  solemnity, 
they  proceeded  to  the  meeting  house.  An  anthem  excellent- 
ly performed,  began  the  service.  Rev*  Mr.  Eckley  then  made 
the  first  prayer  :  Rev.  Mr.  McClintock  of  Greenland,  (N.  H.) 
delivered  a  sermon  well  adapted  to  the  occasion  :  Rev.  Dr. 
Lathrop  made  the  installation  prayer:  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson  oi 
Brookline  gave  the  charge  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Eliot  prayed  after  it, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and 
another  anthem  concluded  the  service.' 


340  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  first  Roman  Catholick  congregation  was  assembled  in 
Boston,  in  the  year  1784,  from  the  few  French  and  Irish  then 
resident  here,  by  the  Abbe  La  Poitrie,  a  chaplain  in  the  French 
navy.  In  the  year  1788  they  obtained  possession  of  the  old 
French  church  in  School  street,  which  had  become  vacant 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  Croswell  :  mass  was  first  performed  in  it 
Nov.  2,1788.  M.  La  Poitrie  was  succeeded  by  M.  Louis  de 
Rousselet,  and  Mr.  John  ThayeT,  a  native  of  Boston,  who  had 
renounced  the  Protestant  faith  and  taken  orders  under  the 
Romish  see,  as  Catholick  Missionary  of  Boston.  Mr.  T.  be- 
gan his  mission  here,  June  10th,  1790,  and  exhibited  great 
zeal  in  the  cause  he  had  espoused.*  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bp.  Car- 
roll (late  of  Baltimore)  visited  Boston,  in  May,  1791,  and  ad- 
ministered confirmation  to  a  number  who  had  received  bap- 
tism here.  In  1792,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  A.  Matignon  arri- 
ved in  Boston,  and  by  his  prudence,  judgment,  and  concilia- 
ting disposition,  considerably  softened  and  removed  the  preju- 
dices which  had  impeded  the  advancement  and  progress  of 
the  Roman  Catholick  religion.  Dr.  Matignon  was  joined  by 
the  Rev.  John  Cheverus,  (afterwards  R.C  Bishop  of  this  city 
and  at  present  Bishop  of  Montauban,)  in  the  year  1796. 
These  two  gentlemen  made  applications  to  the  Protestants, 
who  generously  contributed  ;  a  lot  was  purchased  in  Frank- 
lin Place,  and  the  Roman  Catholick  church,  a  neat  and  well 
proportioned  edifice,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God, 
under  the  name  of  "The  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,"  by  the 
late  Bishop  Carroll,  on  the  29th  day  of  September,  1803.f — 
Under  Dr.  Matignon  and  Bp.  Cheverus  the  congregation 
increased  in  numbers  and  respectability,  by  accessions  not 
only  from  the  foreign  population  of  the  town,  but  from  native 
citizens.  Dr.  Matignon  was  removed  by  death,  and  the  bish- 
op has  been  called  to  his  native  country  to  the  enjoyment  of 
higher  honours  in  the  church.  The  departure  of  both  was 
deeply  lamented, not  only  by  catholicks,  but  by  all  who  knew 
them  either  personally  or  by  character. 

The  origin  of  the  Methodist  Society  in  Boston  was  attended 
with  some  circumstances  of  discouragement.  Rev.Wm.Black, 
from  Halifax,  was  the  first  minister  of  that  denomination  who 
preached  here.  He  arrived  in  October,  1784,  and  was  al- 
lowed to  appear  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  Baptist  church. 
He  was  here  but  a  short  time,  yet  many  persons  became  con- 


*  Mass.  His.  Col.  1.  iii.  264.    Col.  Centinel,   Nov.  24,  1790— Jan.  26,  June  24,  July  30.  1791. 

■f  The  Rev.  Mr.  Thayer,  by  a  disposition  in  his  will,  bequeathed  money  for  the  erection  of 
an  Ursuline  Convent,  which  has  been  since  erected  contiguous  to  the  Church,  and  in  which 
the  female  children  of  the  R.  Catholick  communion  are  educated 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  341 

verted  under  his  preaching  :  most  of  them  joined  the  Baptist 
churches.  In  1790,  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  visited  Boston  and  the 
vicinity  :  he  preached,  as  Whitfield  had  done  before  him,  on 
the  Common.  A  considerable  number  adopted  his  senti- 
ments, and  met  together  for  worship  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
Burrill,  in  Sheafe-street,  till  June  1792,*  when  they  obtained 
the  use  of  the  North  School- house.  At  that  time,  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Cosden  was  their  preacher.  Jn  August,  1792,  twelve 
persons  '  were  joined  into  a  societj7,  under  the  denomination 
of  the  Methodist.Episcopal  church-'  After  the  old  school-house 
was  pulled  down,  this  society  met  once  at  the  Green  Dragon  : 
thence  they  removed  to  Mr.  Conner's  in  Ship-street,  and 
thence  to  Mr.  John  Ruddock's  house,  opposite  Clark's  (since 
Ballard  &l  Hartt's)  ship-yard,  in  the  same  street  ;  a  room  in 
this  last  house  was  formally  dedicated  Aug.  17,  1793.  Find- 
ing themselves  very  unpleasantly  situated  for  the  want  of  a 
commodious  place  for  their  meetings,  the  society  made  an  ef- 
fort to  obtain  subscriptions  towards  a  proper  house  of  worship. 
On  the  5th  of  Sept.  1795,  Messrs.  Sam.  Burrill,  Elijah  Lewis, 
Uriah  Tufts,  Joseph  Snelling,  Sam'l  Mills,  and  Abraham  In- 
gersoll,  as  a  committee  of  the  society,  purchased  a  lot  of  land 
in  Methodist  alley  (now  so  called),  and  a  house  was  built 
thereon,  measuring  46  feet  by  36,  and  22  ft.  post.  It  was 
first  occupied  and  dedicated  May  15,  1796  ;  Rev.  Geo.  Pick- 
ering being  the  officiating  clergyman.  The  church  at  that 
time  consisted  of  50  members. 

In  the  year  1803,  a  religious  society  was  commenced,  of  the 
denomination  of  Freewill  Baptists.  It  was  at  first  composed 
of  persons  who  seceded  from  the  other  Baptist  churches  in 
town,  and  adhered  to  the  doctrines  at  that  time  promulgated 
by  Messrs.  Thomas  Jones  and  Elias  Smith.  They  have  since 
been  known  under  the  distinctive  appellation  of  Christens. 
Their  first  meetings  were  held  in  a  large  wooden  building  in 
Friend-street,  then  adjoining  the  Mill-pond.  They  have  since 
occupied  the  hall  in  Bedford-street,  and  now  (Oct.  1825)  have 
a  brick  meeting-house  erecting  at  the  corner  of  Summer  and 
Sea  streets.  They  have  had  a  number  of  preachers,  who 
have  continued  with  them  a  short  time.  "  When  they  have 
no  Elders  to  preach,  they  often  exhort  each  other,  both  male 
and  female.  The  same  privilege  is  granted  to  all  pious  peo- 
ple, when  assembled  with  them,  of  whatever  denomination 
they  may  be.     They  hold  to  the  six  principles  of  the  doctrine 


*  Records  of  the  Society — In  Selectmen's  minutes,  Sept.  16,  1785.  permission  is  granted  to 
the  hearers  of  Mr.  William  Black  to  occupy  the  North  Grammar  School  until  further  order. 
The  new  School-house  was  finished,  Oct.  1792. 


342  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

of  Christ,  viz.  '  Repentance  from  dead  works,  faith  towards 
God,  of  baptisms,  of  laying  on  of  hands,  of  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  and  of  eternal  judgment  :  urging  frequently  upon  their 
hearers  the  necessity  of  the  two  first  principles  above  in  order 
for  sinners  to  become  '  born  again,'  or  become  '  new  creatures,' 
or  have  the  '  divine  nature,'  or  '  holiness,'  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord.  The  safety  of  those  who  ■  endure  to 
the  end,'  is  firmly  believed  by  them,  and  that  none  but  such 
shall  have  eternal  life." 

In  the  year  1805,  a  church  was  gathered  from  among  the 
coloured  people  of  this  town,  which  when  formed  was  denom- 
inated the  African  Baptist  church.  Their  number  at  first  was 
twenty,  most  of  whom  were  fruits  of  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Paul,  an  ordained  clergyman  of  their  own  colour, 
who  commenced  preaching  in  Franklin  Hall,  an  apartment  in 
the  school-house  in  Nassau  street.  The  year  after  this  church 
was  formed,  they  began  to  make  exertions  towards  building 
them  a  place  of  worship.  They  chose  a  committee  to  make 
collections,  among  whom  was  Cato  Gardiner,  a  native  of  Africa, 
who  had  long  been  one  of  Dr.  Stillman's  respectable  members. 
At  his  importunity  Dr.  Stillman  drew  a  subscription  paper, 
which  Cato  circulated  in  different  places,  and  obtained  about 
1500  dollars.  Others  of  the  church  made  collections  to  a  con- 
siderable amount,  and  having  received  encouragement  to  go 
forward  in  their  design,  they  chose  a  committee  of  white  men 
to  superintend  the  building,  which  was  finished  and  dedicated, 
Dec.  4,  1806.  Mr.  Paul  was  installed  at  the  same  time.  Rev. 
Drs.  Stillman  and  Baldwin,  Mr.  Grafton  [of  Newton,]  Mr. 
Briggs  [of  Randolph,]  Mr.  Stone  [of  New  Boston,  N.  H.]  all 
of  the  Baptist  denomination,  officiated  on  the  occasion.  This 
house  is  built  of  brick  forty  feet  by  forty-eight,  three  stories 
high.  The  lower  story  is  fitted  up  for  a  school-room  for 
coloured  children,  and  has  been  occupied  for  that  purpose 
from  the  time  it  was  finished.  The  two  upper  stories  are  well 
finished  with  pews,  pulpit,  galleries,  &c.  The  lot  is  small, 
and  with  the  house  cost  8,000  dollars. 

In  the  year  1806,  the  Methodist  society,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  '  resolved  that  it  was  expedient  to  build  another  chap- 
el for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.'  On  the  15th  of  April, 
the  corner  stone  of  the  house  in  Bromfield's  lane  was  laid  by 
Rev.  Peter  Jayne.  and  it  was  completed  and  dedicated  on  the 
19th  of  November  following.  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin  preach- 
ed on  the  occasion.  This  chapel  is  built  of  brick,  its  dimen- 
sions are  84  by  54  ft.  Near  the  N.  E.  corner,  in  the  middle 
course  of  hammered  stone,  in  the  foundation,  is  a  block  taken 
from  the  celebrated  rock  on  which  our  forefathers  landed  at 
Plymouth. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  343 

Proposals  for  building  another  Baptist  meeting-house  were 
issued  in  August,  1806.  A  lot  of  land  had  been  previously 
procured  on  Charles-street,  part  of  which  was  given  by  the 
Mount  Vernon  Company,  and  the  greater  part  purchased  by 
the  subscribers  to  the  undertaking.  Five  members  from  the 
First,  and  nineteen  from  the  Second  Baptist  church,  united 
on  the  oth  of  Aug.  1807,  and  were  regularly  constituted  '  as  a 
separate  church  of  Christ,  by  the  name  of  the  Third  Baptist 
church  in  Boston.'  On  the  same  day  the  house  was  dedica- 
ted. Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin  preached  on  the  occasion.  On  the 
5th  of  October,  Rev.  Caleb  Blood  accepted  the  office  of  pas- 
tor. The  sentiments  of  this  church  are  expressed  in  the 
subjoined  '  declaration  of  their  views  of  divine  truth.'* 

The  formation  of  Park-Street  Church  was  first  proposed  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1808,  when  a  subscription  was 
opened  for  the  erection  of  a  place  of  publick  worship.  On 
the  6th  of  Feb.  1809,  ten  of  the  subscribers  had  a  meeting, 
and  it  was  resolved  to  proceed  in  the  important  undertaking. 
Articles  of  faith  and  a  church  covenant  were  adopted,  and  a 
touncil  called  to  assist  in  forming  the  church.  The  number 
of  persons  who  first  associated  (Feb.  27)  was  twenty-six,  of 

*  Third  Baptist  church  Articles  of  faith. 

We  believe  the  Holy  Bible  was  written  by  men  divinely  inspired,  and  is  a  perfect  rule  of 
faith  and  practice  ;  and  that,  among  others,  it  teaches  the  following  all  important  truths  : 
I.  The  existence  of  one  only  living:  and  true  God,  infinite  in  every  natural  and  moral  perfec- 
tion. II.  That  he  has  made  himself  known  to  bis  people  under  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  same  in  essence,  and  equal  in  every  divine  perfec- 
tion. III.  That  man  was  created  holy;  but  by  wilfully  violating  the  law  of  his  Maker,  he 
fell  from  that  state,  and  from  all  communion  with  God ;  and  as,  by  divine  appointment, 
Adam  was  the  representative  of  all  his  posterity,  we  in  him  became  wholly  defiled,  and 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  :  So  that  by  nature  we  are  indisposed  to  all  good,  and  inclined 
to  all  e*il,  and  are  children  of  wrath,  and  subjects  of  death,  and  of  all  other  miseries,  tem- 
poral, spiritual  and  eternal.  IV.  That  the  only  way  of  salvation  from  this  state  of  guilt 
and  condemnation  is  through  the  righteousness  and  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ,  who,  as  the 
Good  Shepherd,  laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep  ;  and  that  those  only,  who  receive  the  gift 
«f  repentance,  and  faith  in  him,  will  be  finally  saved  by  his  atonement.  V.  That  all  who 
ever  have  been,  or  will  be,  brought  to  repentance,  and  faith  in  the  gospel,  were  chosen  in 
Christ  to  salvation  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  ;  and  that  in  consequence  of  the  eter- 
nal love  of  God  to  them,  through  the  atonement,  the  Holy  Ghost  is  sent  to  effect  the  work 
of  regeneration  in  their  hearts,  without  which  regenerating  influence,  none  would  ever  re- 
pent or  believe.  VI  That  nothing  can  separate  true  believers  from  the  love  of  God,  but 
they  will  be  kept  by  his  power,  through  faith,  unto  salvation.  VII.  That  the  only  proper 
subjects  of  the  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  are  professed  believers  ;  and 
that  baptism  is  properly  adminstered  only  by  immersion,  and  is,  by  scriptural  example,  a 
pre-requisite  to  communion  at  the  Lord's  table.  VIII.  That  there  will  be  a  resurrection, 
both  of  the  just  and  unjust ;  and  that  Christ  will  come  a  second  time  to  judge  both  the 
quick  and  the  dead  ;  when  those  who  die  impenitent,  and  unreconciled  to  God,  will  be 
sentenced  to  endless  misery,  as  the  just  desert  of  their  sins  ;  and  those  who  have  been  re- 
newed by  grace,  and  washed  their  robes  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  will  be  completely  deliv- 
ered from  the  dominion  of  sin,  and  admitted  into  the  holy  and  heavenly  Jerusalem,  with 
songs  and  everlasting  joy.    So  shall  they  be  ever  with  the  Lord. 


344  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

whom  21  were  dismissed  from  other  churches,  and  5  received 
by  the  council  on  profession  of  faith.  The  corner-stone  of 
their  meeting-house  was  laid  on  the  first  of  May.  A  plate, 
bearing  the  following  inscription,  was  deposited  in  the  south- 
east corner  :  sc.  "  Jesus  Christ  the  chief  corner  stone,  in  who7n 
all  the  building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  an  holy 
temple  in  the  Lord.  This  church  formed  February  27th,  and 
this  foundation  laid  May  1st,  1809."  The  house  was  dedica- 
ted to  the  service  of  God,  Jan.  10,  1810.  Rev.  Edward  Dorr 
Griffin,  D.  D.  (then  Bartlett  Professor  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  at 
Andover)  preached  on  the  occasion. 

There  had  been  hopes  with  the  founders  of  this  church 
that  they  should  be  able  to  obtain  the  services  of  Dr.  Henry 
Kollock  of  Savannah,  but  they  were  disappointed.  The 
church  continued  without  a  settled  pastor  until  July  31, 1811, 
when  Dr.  Griffin,  (who  had  constantly  supplied  their  pulpit,) 
was  installed  over  them. 

This  church  professes  a  '  decided  attachment  to  that  sys- 
tem of  the  Christian  religion  which  is  distinguishingly  denom- 
inated Evangelical,  more  particularly  to  those  doctrines 
which  in  a  proper  sense  are  styled  the  doctrines  of 
grace,'  and  adopts  the  Congregational  tbrm  of  government,  as 
contained  in  the  Cambridge  Platform  framed  by  the  synod  of 
sixteen  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

.  The  erection  of  a  meeting-house  for  the  Second  Society  of 
Universalists  was  proposed  '  at  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Universal  Society,'  holden  on  Thursday, 
November  14,  1816.  Preparatory  measures  were  adopted, 
and  they  were  incorporated  Dec.  13,  1816, '  by  the  name  of 
the  Second  Society  of  Universalists  in  the  town  of  Boston.'* 
On  Monday  morning,  May  19,  1817,  the  corner-stone  of  the 


*  A  church  was  formed  in  this  society, Dec.  3, 1817.    Their  Uniting  Compact  is  as  follows: 

Uniting  Compact  of  the  Second  Universalist  church  in  Boston. 

1st.  Being  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  feeling  truly 
grateful  for  such  a  ^revelation  of  divine  favour,  we,  whose  names  are  undersigned,  with  a 
view  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  to  edify  and  comfort  each  other,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  command  of  Christ,  who  directs  us  to  '  let  our  light  shiDe  before  men,'  do  hereby 
unite  in  the  solemn  and  important  relation  of  a  Christian  church.  2d.  We  mutually  agree 
to  celebrate  the  unspeakably  glorious  event  of  the  death  and  resurrection  of  Jesus,  in  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  as  often  as  a  majority  of  the  chh.  may  think  proper.  3d. 
Claiming  no  right  to  fix  a  creed,  which  might  in  any  way  impede  our  progress  in  the  grace 
and  knowledge  of  our  L.J.C.  or  operate  as  a  mean  to  prevent  any  sincere  lover  of  truth 
from  uniting  with  us  in  the  Christian  communion  and  fellowship,  we  accept  no  other  rule 
of  faith,  practice,  or  discipline  than  the  S.  Scriptures.  4th.  Disclaiming  any  right  to  exam- 
ine or  judge  another's  faith,  and  adhering  to  the  Apostle's  directions  to  '  let  a  man  ex- 
amine himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread  and  drink  of  that  cup,'  we  consider  the  table 
of  the  Lord  free  for  the  communion  of  all,  whose  moral  conduct  would  not  bring  a  reproach- 
5th.  We  furthermore  mutually  agree  to  pay  all  expenses  which  may  be  deemed  necessary 
according  to  any  distribution  which  a  majority  may  see  fit  to  make. 


HISTORY   OF   BOSTON,  345 

new  meeting-house,  in  School-street,  was  laid  and  a  silver 
plate  deposited,  being  the  gift  of  Dr.  David  Towns- 
end,  bearing  the  following  inscription  :  "  The  Second  Uni' 
versal  church,  devoted  to  the  worship  of  the  True  God, 
Jesus  Christ  being  the  chief  corner-stone.  May  Idth,  1817." 
This  house  is  a  plain  building  of  brick,  without  a  steeple,  75 
ft.  long  and  57  broad.  The  dedication  took  place  on  Thurs- 
day, Oct.  16th  :  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  of  Gloucester,  preach- 
ed on  the  occasion.  October  21st,  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou  was 
unanimously  invited  to  the  ministry  over  this  society,  and  his 
installation  took  place  on  Christmas-day,  Dec.  25th  1817. 
Rev.  Paul  Dean  preached  from  John  xx.  24,  and  gave  the 
fellowship  of  the  churches  ;  Rev.  Edw.  Turner,  of  Charles- 
town,  made  the  installation  prayer  and  gave  the  charge  ;  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Flagg,  of  Salem,  made  the  concluding  prayer. 

The  services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  were  cel- 
ebrated, for  the  first  time,  in  that  part  of  the  town  called  South 
Boston,  on  Sunday,  March  31,  1816.  For  more  than  two 
years  the  congregation  met  in  a  school-house,  and  services 
were  conducted  by  different  clergymen  and  lay-readers.  St. 
Matthew's  church  was  consecrated  on  the  24th  of  June,  1818, 
by  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Griswold,  Bishop  of  the  Eastern  dio- 
cese. It  is  situated  on  Broad-way,  and  is  a  neat  and  commo- 
dious brick  building.  The  expences  of  its  erection  were 
chiefly  defrayed  by  benevolent  members  of  Trinity  and  Christ 
churches,  with  a  view  to  the  future  wants  of  that  section  of 
the  city.  A  service  of  plate  for  the  use  of  the  altar  was  pre- 
sented by  the  ladies  of  Christ  church,  and  the  pulpit,  desk, 
and  chancel  were  furnished  with  appropriate  dressings  by  the 
ladies  of  Trinity  church.  The  late  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bowdoin 
Winthrop  was  a  most  liberal  benefactor.  Religious  services 
were  maintained  in  this  church,  by  occasional  supplies,  but  it 
was  not  till  June,  1824,  that  the  parish  enjoyed  the  stated  la- 
bours of  a  minister  in  full  orders,  when  the  Rev.  John  L. 
Blake  became  Rector.  The  wardens  are  Messrs.  Abraham 
Gould  and  Robert  P.  Williams. 

In  August,  1818,  there  was  a  church  formed  that  adopts  the 
sentiments  of  Baron  Emanuel  Swedenborg.  They  first  as- 
sociated on  Saturday,  the  15th  of  August,  and  on  the  next  day 
held  a  publick  meeting  at  Boylston  Hall.  The  number  of 
their  first  associates  was  eleven,  six  of  whom  were  gentlemen, 
and  five  ladies.  Their  first  preacher  was  Mr.  Samuel  Worces- 
ter :  he  is  not  ordained,  but  administers  the  sacrament  of 
baptism.  The  society  was  incorporated,  Feb.  11,  1823,  by 
the  name  of  '  the  Boston  Society  of  the  Mew  Jerusalem.''  They 
have  held  meetings  at  different  periods  at  Boylston  Hall, 
Bedford  st.  hall,  and  the  Pantheon.  Their  present  place  of 
worship  is  in  Pantheon  Hall. 
44 


346  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

Essex-Street  Church  was  organized  on  the  27th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1819.  It  was  gathered  under  the  preaching  ot  the  Rev, 
James  Sabine,  who  came  to  Boston  in  July,  1818,  from  St. 
John's,  Newfoundland,  where  be  had  been  settled  about  two 
years  over  a  society,  which  became  reduced  in  numbers,  and 
in  the  means  of  giving  him  support,  after  the  desolating  fires 
that  occurred  at  that  place  in  November,  1817.  Upon 
his  arrival  in  Boston,  Mr.  Sabine  commenced  preaching  in 
Boylston  hall,  and  when  the  church  was  organized,  he  was 
publickly  recognized  as  its  pastor.  Seventeen  members,  of 
whom  10  were  brethren,  constituted  the  church.  The  con- 
gregation increasing,  arrangements  were  made  for  building  a 
meeting-house  in  Essex  st.  The  corner-stone  was  laid,  June 
26,  1819,  and  the  new  house  was  dedicated,  on  the  15th  of 
December.* 

The  members  of  the  Romish  communion  at  South  Boston 
are  accommodated  in  a  neat  Gothick  church,  which  bears  the 
name  of  St.  Augustine's  Chapel.  A  tablet  wrought  into  the 
front  of  the  building  bears  the  following  inscription  :  "  Erect- 
ed by  the  Catholic  Congregation  of  Boston,  with  the  approbation 
and  assistance  of  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Cheverus,  A.D.  1819." 

St.  Paul's  Church  was  proposed  to  be  erected  by  a 
subscription  which  was  commenced  in  March,  1819.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid,  Sept.  4th,  with  appropriate  solemnities. 
The  church  was  consecrated,  June  30,  1820,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bp.  Alex.  Viets  Griswold,  bishop  of  the  Eastern  diocese,  as- 
sisted by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bp.  Thos.  C.  Brownell,  of  Connecti- 
cut, with  many  of  the  clergy.  Dr.  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis 
was  instituted  rector,  Friday,  July  7,  1820. 

This  edifice  is  situated  on  Common  st.  between  Winter 
and  West  streets,  and  fronts  towards  the  Common.  It  is 
built  of  fine  gray  granite,  and  is  an  imitation,  so  far  as  res- 
pects the  architecture,  of  a  Grecian  model  of  the  lonick  order. 
The  body  of  the  church  is  about  112  ft.  long  by  72  ft.  wide, 
and  40  ft.  high  from  the  platform  to  the  top  of  the  cornice. 
The  portico  projects  about  14  feet,  and  has  six  lonick  col- 
umns, 3  ft.  5  in.  diameter,  and  32  ft.  high,  of  Potomac  sand- 
stone, laid  in  courses.     The  base  of  the   building  rises  four 


*  In  the  course  of  two  years,  some  difficulties  arose,  which  resulted  in  a  vote,  March  6, 
1822,  '  that  this  chh.  think  it  necessary  to  withdraw  from  the  bouse  of  worship  in  Essex  st. 
and  that  after  this  date  they  do  meet  for  worship  and  communion  in  Boylston  hall.'  Accord- 
ingly on  the  following  sabbath  tbey  assembled  there. 

This  body  retained  the  name  of  Essex  st.  church,  until  Nov.  26,  1823,  when  they  were 
acknowledged  and  received  by  the  Londonderry  Presbytery,  aud  organized  into  their  body. 
Thus  they  became  the  second  Presbyterian  church  ir  Boston,  (Mr.  Moorbead's  having  been  the 
first,)  but  they  are  '  known  by  the  name  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  in  the  City  of 
Boston? 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  347 

feet,  and  there  is  a  flight  of  steps  to  the  portico,  extending  the 
whole  width  of  the  front.  The  interior  is  lighted  by  ten 
long  windows,  and  has  a  chancel  and  organ  gallery.  The 
ceiling  is  a  cylindrical  vault,  with  pannels  which  span  the 
whole  width  of  the  church.  Beneath  the  principal  floor, 
there  are  commodious  and  well  constructed  tombs,  secured  in 
a  manner  to  obviate  any  objection  which  fear,  or  experience, 
or  observation  may  have  suggested.* 

Under  the  patronage  and  influence  of  benevolent  individu- 
als associated  as  a  society  for  the  moral  and  religious  instruc- 
tion of  the  poor,  a  Meeting  for  seamen  was  opened  at  the 
hill  on  Central  wharf,  on  Lord's  day,  Aug.  9,1818:  and 
through  the  exertions  of  the  same  body,  another  meeting  was 
established  at  Parkman's  market,  Jan.  31,  1819.  At  these 
pi. ices,  publick  worship  was  regularly  maintained,  half  a  day 
at  each  ;  and  besides  the  particular  classes,  for  which  the 
meetings  were  instituted,  it  was  found  that  a  considerable 
number  of  persons  assembled,  whose  circumstances  rendered 
their  attendance  at  the  more  frequented  houses  of  worship 
inconvenient.  Further  exertions  were  therefore  made  for 
their  accommodation,  and  a  house  has  been  erected  on  the 
west  side  of  Butolph-street,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Mis- 
sion House.  It  was  dedicated,  July  5,  1821,  and  a  church, 
consisting  of  17  members,  was  constituted,  Dec.  30,  1823. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Jenks  officiates  as  their  minister. 

This  was  the  forty-ninth  house,  built  for  the  worship  of  God 
in  Boston.  Since  the  organization  of  the  city  government, 
several  other  religious  societies  have  been  formed,  of  which 
we  shall  speak  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 


*  The  interior  of  St.  Paul's  is  remarkable  for  its  simplicity  and  beauty,  and  the  materials 
of  which  the  building  has  been  constructed  give  it  an  intrinsick  value  and  an  effect,  which 
have  not  been  produced  by  any  imitations  of  the  classick  models,  that  have  been  attempted  of 
bricks  and  plaster  in  other  cities.  The  erection  of  this  church  may  be  considered  the  com- 
mencement of  an  era  in  the  art,  in  Boston  ;  and  although  from  its  situation  it  is  somewhat 
obscured,  the  beauties  it  displays  have  already  had  a  sensible  influence  on  taste  in  archi- 
tecture :  and  those  who  are  aware  of  the  importance  of  this  art,  in  giving  form  to  our  city, 
will  consider  themselves  under  the  highest  obligations  to  the  disinterested  and  high-minded 
individuals  of  the  committee,  by  whom  this  church  has  been  designed  and  erected,  and  wii! 
not  withhold  the  meed  of  praise  from  the  architect  and  artists,  who  suprientended  the 
construction  of  it. 


348  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

"  Whate'er  the  humanizing-  Muses  teach  ; 
The  godlike  wisdom  of  the  temper'd  breast ; 
Progressive  truth  ;  the  patient  force  of  thought ; 
Investigation  calm,  whose  silent  powers 
Command  the  world  ; — these  all  are  theirs." 

The  earliest  trace  of  our  system  of  free  schools  is  to  be 
found  on  the  Boston  records,  under  date  of  April  13,  1635, 
where  it  is  stated  to  have  been  -  agreed  upon  that  our  brother 
Philemon  Purmont  shall  be  intreated  to  become  schoolmaster, 
for  the  teaching  and  nurturing  of  children  with  us.'  Whether 
Mr.  P.  consented  to  serve  the  town,  does  not  appear  :*  but 
another  person,  Mr.  Daniel  Maude,  was  '  also  chosen'  to  the 
office  of'  free-school  master'  in  August,  1636. 

The  first  provision  for  the  support  of  schools  seems  to  have 
been  made  by  voluntary  contribution.  There  is  a  subscrip- 
tion recorded,  on  the  last  leaf  of  the  oldest  volume  of  town 
records,  which,  though  the  first  line  is  illegible,  is  plainly  dis- 
cerned to  be  '  towards  the  maintenance  of — free  Schoolmaster.'' 
It  is  headed  by  '  the  Gov.  Mr.  Henry  Vane,  Esq.'  who  puts 
down  £10,  as  do  also  the  Dep.  Gov.  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  and 
Mr.  Richard  Bellingham.  Forty-two  other  persons  subscribe 
according  to  their  ability,  some  30s.  and  some  as  low  as  4s. 
making  in  all  about  the  sum  of  forty  pounds.  In  1641,  the 
income  from  Deer  Island  was  appropriated  for  the  school's 
use  ;  and  in  other  years  the  rents  of  that  and  other  islands 
were  devoted  to  the  same  purpose.  Under  date  of  1 645.  Gov. 
Winthrop  notes  in  his  Journal,  that '  divers  free  schools  were 
erected,'  and  observes  that,  at  Boston,  they  made  an  order  to 
allow  forever  £50  per  ann.  for  the  master,  and  a  house, — 
and  £30  to  an  usher,  who  should  also  teach  to  read,  write, 
and  cipher — and  the  charge  was  to  be  defrayed  '  by  yearly 
contribution,  either  by  voluntary  allowance  or  by  rate  of  such 
as  refused.' 

Mr.  Maude  was  a  minister,  and  soon  removed  to  Dover,  N. 
H.  His  successors  in  the  school  were  probably  a  Mr. Wood- 
bridge  (mentioned  Dec.  2,  1644.)  and  Mr.  Robert  Woodman- 
sey,  whose  name  appears  on  the  records,  April  11, 1'  50.  On 
the  lith  of  March,  1666,  Mr.  Daniel  Henchman  was  employ- 


*  First  Church  rec.    Jan.  6,  1639,  Philemon  Purmont  was   dismissed   to  join  Mr.  Wheel- 
wright and  others  at  Piscataqua. 


HISTORY    OF   BOSTON.  349 

ed  '  to  assist  Mr.  Woodmansey  in  the  grammar  school  and 
teach  children  to  write.'  Mr.  Woodmanse}-  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Benjamin  Thomson,  '  a  man  of  great  learning  and  wit, 
well  acquainted  with  the  Roman  and  Greek  writers,  and  a 
good  poet.'  He  was  chosen  Aug.  26,  1667,  to  officiate  for 
one  year,  and  appears  to  have  continued  in  the  service  of  the 
town,  together  with  Mr.  Henchman,  until  Jan.  3,  1671,  when 
he  resigned,  and  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever  took  the  principal 
charge  of  the  school.  Mr.  C.  had  been  a  distinguished  in- 
structor, in  various  parts  of  New  England,  and  his  reputation 
was  not  diminished  by  his  career  in  this  place  :  under  hirn 
the  Grammar-school  of  Boston  attained  the  rank  of '  the  prin- 
cipal school  of  the  British  colonies,  if  not  in  all  America.' 

Several  persons  had  been  licensed  to  keep  private  schools 
'  to  teach  children  to  write  and  keep  accounts  ;'  but  there  is 
no  reason  to  suppose  that  there  had  been  more  than  one  pub- 
lick  school,  prior  to  1684.  In  April,  1683,  the  town  voted  to 
provide  two  schools,  and  to  allow  £25  per  ann.  for  the  sup- 
port of  each,  with  the  understanding  'that  such  persons  as 
send  their  children  to  the  school,  that  are  able,  should  pay 
something  to  the  master  for  his  better  encouragement.'  And, 
Nov.  22,  1684,  '  Dea.  Henry  Allen  and  Capt.  Frarye  made 
a  return,  that,  '  according  to  a  former  order  they- had  agreed 
with  John  Cole  to  keep  a  free  school,  to  teach  the  children  of 
the  town  to  read  and  write,  for  one  year  from  the  first  of  this 
instant  November,  for  which  the  town  is  to  pay  him  £10  in 
money,  and  £20  in  country  pay  as  money,  or  at  money 
price.'  This  was  the  first  of  the  free  writing  schools,  and  Mr. 
Cole  seems  to  have  been  as  much  respected  and  beloved  in 
his  department,  as  Mr.  Cheever  was  in  his. 

The  original  Latin  school-house  was  located  on  the  North 
side  of  School-street,  at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Chapel 
burying-ground,  nearly  opposite  to  the  present  school-house. 
One  of  the  writing  schools  was  kept  in  Court-street,  and  the 
other,  we  suppose,  at  the  north  part  of  the  town.* 

A  Grammar  school  was  opened  at  the  North  end,  in  1713, 
agreeably  to  a  vote  of  March  11,  1712.  It  was  located  on 
Bennet-street,  on  the  lot  now   occupied  by  the  Eliot  school, 


*  In  the  Hutchinson  MSS.  we  find  the  following  order  of  Gov.  Andros,  dated  Boston, 
the  24th  of  May,  1687.  "  By  his  ExJs  command.  Upon  the  petition  of  Joshua  Natstock,  and 
recommendation  of  many  of  the  ink.  of  the  N.  part  of  the  town  of  B.  I  do  hereby  appoint  the 
said  Joshua  to  be  master  of  the  publiclc  school  there,  and  to  have  and  enjoy  such  profits  and 
benefits  and  advantages  as  have  been  heretofore  paid  and  allowed  to  his  predecessors.'"  It  was 
a  favourite  object  with  Randolph  to  have  all  the  schools  supplied  with  masters  of  the  per- 
suasion of  the  Church  of  England.  When  Andros's  power  ceased,  the  town  lost  no  time  in 
voting,  (Records,  June  24,  1689.)  that  the  custom  and  practice_of  managing  free  schools  be 
restored  and  continued. 


350  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

which  the  town  purchased  of  Mrs.  Susanna  Love.  The  house 
was  built  by  Capt.  Thos.  Hutchinson  (father  of  Gov.  Hutch- 
inson,) at  his  own  charge.  Recompense  Wadsworth  was  the 
first  master. 

A  free  writing-school  was  built,  in  1718,  on  the  same  lot,  on 
Love-lane,by  Thos.  and  Edw.  Hutchinson,  as  executors  of  the 
will  of  Foster  Hutchinson,  and  went  into  operation  the  next 
year.     Mr.  Jeremiah  Condy  was  appointed  master. 

In  1717,  a  south  writing-school  was  established,  and  loca- 
ted '  on  the  Common  over  against  Mr.  Wainwright's,'  that  is, 
near  the  corner  of  West  and  Common  streets.  The  first  mas- 
ter's name  appears  to  have  been  Amos  Angier. 

These  two  Grammar  and  three  Writing  Schools  were  the 
only  publick  schools  in  Boston,  before  the  Revolution.  They 
were  under  the  inspection  of  the  selectmen  and  '  a  certain 
number  of  gentlemen  of  liberal  education,  together  with  some 
of  the  reverend  ministers,'  whose  custom  it  was  to  make  an 
annual  report  to  the  town  of  the  state  of  the  schools.  In  1 742, 
when  the  population  of  the  town  was  16,382,  there  were  re- 
ported (as  present  June  23,  1741,) 

At  the  South  Writing-school  ....    73        At  the  South  Latin-school    94 

Queen-st. 73        North 65 

North    230        Total     535 

At  the  visitation,  July  1,  1772,  there  were  present  823 
scholars.  During  the  siege,  the  town  schools  were  suspend- 
ed :  a  few  children  attended  the  instructions  of  Mr.  Elias 
Dupee,  who  remained  in  Boston,  and  gratuitously  devoted 
himself  to  his  employment  of  a  teacher,  in  which  he  took  pe- 
culiar delight.  November  8,  1776,  there  was  a  vote  of  the 
town,  that  the  schools  should  be  opened  under  the  direction 
of  the  selectmen  ;  and  we  soon  find  them  all  in  successful  op- 
eration. In  March,  1785,  a  writing  school,  to  be  located  far- 
ther south  than  that  in  the  Common,  was  established,  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Cheney  was  formally  inducted  into  the  office  of  mas- 
ter, on  the  26th  of  April  following.  He  was  charged  to  hear 
the  children  read  the  scriptures  occasionally,  and  teach  them 
the  catechism  once  a  week,  besides  instructing  them  in  wri- 
ting and  arithmetick.  The  number  of  children  reported  pre- 
sent, May  23,  1785,  was  only  564  :  both  the  Latin  schools 
having  together  but  64  pupils  ;  Queen  st.  and  the  North  W. 
each,  150  ;  Common,  119  ;  Cheney's,  81.  At  this  time  the 
rule  was  adopted,  that  no  children  be  admitted  to  the  writing 
schools,  under  seven  years  of  age. 

The  concerns  of  the  schools  were  conducted  in  the  usual 
train  until  the  year  1789.  On  the  23d  of  Sept.  that  year,  a 
committee  was  appointed,  of  one  from  each  ward,  to  draft  a 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  351 

new  system  of  education.  Their  report,  which  was  made  and 
accepted,  Oct.  16th,  recommended  the  plan,  which  has  since 
been  pursued  and  improved.  They  proposed  to  continue  but 
one  (the  south)  Latin  Grammar  school,  and  to  establish  three 
reading  schools,  in  apartments  separate  from  the  three  writing 
schools.  Candidates  for  admission  were  required  to  be  7 
years  of  age,  '  having  previously  received  the  instruction 
usual  at  women's  schools.'  Children  of  both  sexes  were  to 
be  admitted,  boys  for  the  year  round,  and  girls  from  April  to 
October,  '  to  be  taught  to  spell,  accent,  and  read  prose  and 
verse,  and  also  to  be  instructed  in  English  grammar  and  com- 
position.' A  committee  of  twelve,  was  proposed  to  be  chosen 
annually  ;  who,  in  conjunction  with  the  selectmen,  should 
exercise  all  the  powers  which  the  laws  of  the  state  or  votes 
of  the  town  had  delegated  to  selectmen  or  school  commit- 
tees. The  execution  of  the  system  was  immediately  com- 
menced, by  the  appointment  of  the  First  School  Committee, 
Oct.  20,1789. 

The  elements  of  geography  and  astronomy  were  soon  add- 
ed to  the  studies  of  the  English  grammar  schools  ;  and  the  in- 
crease of  population  and  the  rising  reputation  of  these  semi- 
naries in  a  little  time  demanded  more  ample  accommodations 
for  the  numerous  pupils  who  resorted  to  them.  In  1790,  a 
wooden  building  of  two  stories  was  erected  on  the  north  side 
of  School  street  (now  Court  square)  calculated  for  the  accom- 
modation of  200  scholars  in  each  story.  In  1792,  the  old 
school  houses  at  the  North  were  taken  down  and  a  two 
story  brick  building  erected  on  the  same  spot.  These  two 
buildings  were  occupied  by  the  Centre  and  North  reading 
and  writing  schools.  The  South  reading  school  was  accom- 
modated in  Nassau  (now  Common)  street,  and  the  South  writ- 
ing: at  the  corner  of  West  and  Common  streets. 

In  1800,  there  were  seven  publick  schools  in  operation,  in 
which  seven  masters  were  employed  on  salaries  of  $666  66  cts. 
and  an  allowance  of  $200,  together  with  seven  ushers  at  $333 
33  cts.  with  an  allowance  of  $100.  1  he  town  tax  in  that  year 
was  $61489,25  and  the  charge  for  schools  $11100,85.  In 
the  spring  of  1804  another  reading  and  writing  school  were 
opened  in  the  new  brick  school  house  at  the  corner  of  Hawkins 
and  Chardon  street.  In  1806,  the  number  of  scholars  belong- 
ing to  all  the  schools  was  1760  :  boys  1030,  girls  730. 

In  process  of  time  it  had  been  found  that  the  rnle  requir- 
ing applicants  for  admission  to  be  able  "  to  read  the  English 
language  by  spelling  the  same,"  had  operated  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  a  large  class  of  children,  whose  parents  were  unable 
or  unwilling  either  to  instruct  them,  or  to  give  them  a  private 
education.  Sunday  schools  were  revived  in  the  town,  in  the 
year  1816,  in  which  it  was  the  object  of  the  managers,  besides 


352  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

conveying  religious  instruction,  to  fit  their  charge  for  the 
English  grammar  schools:  but  the  number,  which  needed  to 
be  thus  fitted,  proved  to  be  so  great,  that  many  citizens  be- 
came desirous  that  something  should  be  done  by  the  town  to- 
wards the  same  object.  A  petition  was  presented,  that  free 
schools  might  be  established  for  children  between  the  age  of 
four  and  seven  years.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  ascer- 
tain the  number  of  children,  throughout  the  town,  who  did 
not  attend  any  school,  and  the  number  that  attended  private 
schools,  and  this  examination  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Board  of  Primary  Schools,  by  a  vote  passed  June,  11, 
1818.  This  board  was  at  first  composed  of  three  gentlemen, 
from  each  ward,  chosen  by  the  school  committee,  with  pow- 
ers to  establish  a  suitable  number  of  schools,  appoint  teach- 
ers, and  have  the  general  superintendence  :  the  increase 
of  the  schools  has  rendered  it  necessary  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  the  committee,  which  now  consists  of  one  member  for 
each  school,  together  with  a  standing  committee  of  seven  and 
a  treasurer.  The  board  is  subdivided  into  district  commit- 
tees. It  is  the  duty  of  each  member  frequently  to  visit  his 
particular  school  and  to  report  its  state  to  the  district  commit- 
tee, to  which  he  is  attached,  and  they  report  the  state  of  all 
the  schools  in  their  district  to  the  standing  committee,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  visit  all  the  schools,  semiannually,  and  make  a 
general  report,  which  is  sent,  after  its  acceptance  by  the 
Primary  Board,  to  the  school  committee.  The  effect  of  this 
system,  which  has  been  executed  with  untiring  assiduity  and 
unvarying  regularity,  never  perhaps  excelled,  has  been  to 
raise  the  tone  of  general  instruction  and  moral  improvement 
in  the  great  mass  of  our  population.  The  children  are  here 
committed  to  the  care  of  female  instructers,  who  are  selected 
from  the  worthiest  in  point  of  moral  and  literary  qualifica- 
tions ;  and  the  poorest  receive  the  same  attention  as  is  be- 
stowed upon  the  more  wealthy,  of  whom  many  are  sent  to  the 
primary,  in  preference  to  the  private  schools  :  and  the  whole 
may  be  '  fairly  said  to  be  more  carefully  taught,  and  more 
effectually  watched  and  guarded  in  their  characters  and  con- 
duct, than  the  same  number  of  children  of  the  same  age  ever 
were  before.' 

The  complete  success,  which  immediately  attended  the  in- 
stitution of  primary  schools,  produced  a  very  strong  feeling  in 
favour  of  publick  education,  and  created  a  seasonable  oppor- 
tunity for  gratifying  the  wishes  of  those  who  had  been  long 
calling  for  a  school,  in  which  such  as  have  not  a  desire,  or 
lack  the  means  to  pursue  a  collegiate  education,  might  receive 
instruction  in  some  branches  of  great  practical  importance, 
usually  taught  only  at  colleges.  The  plan  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  English  Classical  school  (nowr  called  the  English 


HISTORY    OF    HUSTON.  353 

High  school)  was  brought  forward  in  the  School  Committee, 
June  17,  1820;  the  town  adopted  it  in  the  course  of  that 
year,  and  the  school  went  into  operation,  in  May,  1821.  The 
principal  instructer  was  Mr.  Geo.  B.  Emerson.  The  higher 
branches  of  mathematicks, natural  and  moral  philosophy,  nat- 
ural and  civil  history,  natural  theology  and  evidences  of 
Christianity,  composition,  declamation,  and  instruction  in  the 
French  language,  constitute  the  course  pursued  at  this  school. 
No  boy  may  be  admitted  under  12  years  of  age,  and  none 
remain  more  than  three  years.  By  the  present  regulations 
of  the  school  committee,  there  is  to  be  at  least  one  instructer 
to  every  forty  pupils.* 

In  the  autumn  of  1821,  the  basement  room  in  the  Fort-hill 
school  was  fitted  up  for  an  experiment  on  the  plan  of  mutual 
instruction,  and  about  150  children,  (who  with  few  exceptions 
were  too  old  for  the  primary  schools,  and  unqualified  to  enter 
the  E.  grammar  schools)  were  admitted.  Full  liberty  was  al- 
lowed the  instructer  to  adopt  such  parts  of  the  system  as  were 
suitable  to  our  state  of  society,  and  to  make  such  improve- 
ments as  circumstances  might  suggest.  The  number  of  boys 
that  attended  was  seldom  less  than  90,  nor  that  of  the  girls 
Jess  than  70. 

This  school  was  kept  in  operation  about  two  years,  and  ful- 
ly justified  all  reasonable  expectation.  One  hundred  and  sixty 
children  were  taught  the  same  branches  by  one  master,  as 
are  taught  in  the  grammar  and  writing  schools  by  two.  The 
inspection  and  direction  of  this  school  was  at  first  confided  to 
a  sub-committee  of  the  Primary  Board,  by  whom  the  experi- 
ment was  originally  proposed.  In  1823,  it  was  assumed  by 
the  School  Committee,  in  whose  hands  it  died,  on  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  enlightened  gentleman,  who  consented  to  assist  in 
organizing  the  school,  and  to  take  charge  of  it  for  the  first 
year  or  two. 

The  people  of  the  north  part  of  the  town  were  disappointed 
that  a  school  had  not  been  built  for  their  accommodation  in 
1818  ;  at  the  close  of  the  year  1821,  they  renewed  their  pe- 
tition, and  one  of  the  last  acts  of  the  town  of  Boston,  as  such, 
was  a  provision  for  the  erection  of  the  English  grammar  and 
writing  school,  now  called  Hancock  school, in  Hanover-street, 
which  went  into  operation,  June,  18234 


*  The  English  Classical  school  was  commenced  in  Derne-street  school-house  :  in  1824 
it  was  removed  to  the  new  building  at  the  corner  of  Pinckney  and  Centre  streets. 

t  The  Adams  school  was  opened  in  1817  :  Boylston  school,  April  20th,  1819:  Bowdoia 
school,  in  1821  :  South  Boston,  in  1822.  There  had  been  a  publick  school  at  S.  Boston  some 
time  previous. 

45 


354  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

Under  the  city  charter  the  care  and  superintendence  of  the 
publick  schools  devolves  on  the  School  Committee,  which 
body  is  composed  of  one  member  chosen  in  each  ward,  to- 
gether with  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen.  A  course  of  study  for 
the  various  schools  is  marked  out,  and  rules  established  for 
the  government  of  the  scholars,and  instructers,and  committee. 
The  system,  if  closely  pursued,  must  insure  a  rigid  attention 
to  all  the  interests  of  the  schools.  In  addition  to  regular  vis- 
its to  each  school  by  the  sub-committee  who  have  it  in  charge, 
all  the  schools  are  visited  semi-annually  by  the  general 
committee,  accompanied  by  the  authorities  of  the  city,  the 
parents  and  friends  of  the  pupils,  and  other  persons  interest- 
ed or  invited.  The  summer  visitation  has  been  aptly  called 
the  City  Commencement.  The  ambition  of  the  children  is 
excited  to  display  their  several  acquirements  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, and  the  exhibitions  at  the  Latin  and^  Kigh  schools 
may  be  truly  said  to  fall  little  short  of  similar  exercises  at 
College.  Three  of  the  best  boys  in  each  of  the  schools  an- 
nually receive,  on  these  occasions,  a  silver  medal,  "  the  gift 
of  Franklin,"  as  "  a  reward  of  merit."  The  girls  also  receive 
rewards  at  the  expense  of  the  city.  The  emulation  excited 
in  the  contest  for  these  marks  of  distinction  is  confined  to  a 
laudable  ambition,  and,  by  its  happy  effects  on  the  discipline 
of  the  schools  and  on  the  character  of  the  scholars,  evinces 
the  wisdom  of  the  great  man,  who  bequeathed  these  memo- 
rials of  his  love  to    his  native  town.* 


*  The  amount  of  compensation  to  all  the  instructers,  from  June  1, 1824,  to  June  1,  1825, 
was  50,953  dols.  35  cts.  Other  expenditures  for  schools  3,665  d.  47  c.  Total  amount  54,618 
dols.  82  c.  The  estimates  for  the  same  purposes  and  the  erection  of  a  new  school-house, 
lor  the  current  year,  amount  to  73,000  dollars. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  all  the  schools  in  Aug.  1823,  was  5863.  In  this  summer  of  1825 
it  has  been  ascertained  to  be 

In  the  Eng.  Gram.  Schools    ....    1763  boys, 1382  girls. 

50  Primary        „         -    -    -    -    1361    „         1300    „ 

3124  2682 

Afrioan    --.-----         53    „         -----        41    „ 

3177  2723 

Latin    -.--         -...      175    „        -    -    -    -    - 
E.  High 145    „        

Total        -    - -    3497  boys, 2723  girls  =:  6,220 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  355 


CHAPTER  LX. 

"  Only  add 
Deeds  to  thy  Knowledge  answerable,  add  faith, 
Add  virtue,  patience,  temperance,  add  love, 
By  name  to  come  call'd  Charity." 

The  formation  of  a  society  in  Boston  for  promoting  useful 
knowledge  had  been  in  contemplation  for  many  years,  but 
the  design  was  never  vigorously  pursued  till  the  end  of  the 
year  1779,  when  many  gentlemen  in  various  parts  of  the  com- 
monwealth determined  to  use  their  endeavours  to  have  one 
formed  upon  a  liberal  and  extensive  plan,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  have  it  established  upon  a  firm  basis  by  the  sanction 
of  the  legislature.  And,  to  the  honour  of  our  political  fathers 
be  it  spoken,  although  the  country  was  engaged  in  a  distress- 
ing war,  they  immediately  adverted  to  the  usefulness  of  the 
design, and  incorporated  the  society  by  the  name  of  The  Amer- 
ican Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  The  charter  was  granted 
May  4,  1780.  The  design  of  this  institution  was  declared  to 
be  '  the  promotion  and  encouragement  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  antiquities  of  America,  and  of  the  natural  history  of  the 
country,  and  to  determine  the  uses  to  which  the  various  pro- 
ductions of  the  country  may  be  applied  ;  to  promote  and  en- 
courage medical  discoveries,  mathematical  disquisitions,  philo- 
sophical inquiries  and  experiments  ;  astronomical,  meteoro- 
logical, and  geographical  observations  ;  improvements  in  ag- 
riculture, arts,  manufactures,  and  commerce  ;  and,  in  fine,  to 
cultivate  every  art  and  science,  which  may  tend  to  advance 
the  interest,  honour,  dignity,  and  happiness  of  a  free,  indepen- 
dent, and  virtuous  people.'  The  Academy  has  published 
memoirs  of  its  transactions,  in  four  4to  volumes,  of  which  the 
last  appeared  in  1821.  Its  sessions  are  held  in  Boston,  and 
its  valuable  library  is  deposited  in  the  Athenaeum. 

Since  the  institution  of  the  American  Academy,  numerous 
societies  have  been  formed,  which  have  confined  their  atten- 
tion to  some  of  the  particular  objects  embraced  in  the  Acad- 
emy's plan,  such  as,  the  American  Antiquarian,  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical,  the  Historical,  and  the  Agricultural  Societies. 

The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  was  incorporated,  Feb. 
19,1794.  The  design  of  this  institution  is  to  collect,  pre- 
serve, and  communicate  materials  for  a  complete  history  of 
this  country,  and  of  all  valuable  efforts  of  the  ingenuity  and 
industry  of  its  inhabitants.  In  pursuance  of  this  design,  they 
have  already  amassed  a  large  collection  of  books,  pamphlets, 


356  HISTORY    OF    UOSTON. 

and  manuscripts.  The  library  and  museum  of  the  society 
are  deposited  in  a  spacious  apartment  over  the  arch  in  Frank- 
lin-street. They  have  published  their  Collections  in  twenty- 
one  8vo.  volumes,  which  include  Hubbard's  History  of  New 
England,  and  Johnson's  Wonder-Working  Providence.  The 
foundation  of  this  society  was  originally  suggested  by  the  late 
Rev.  Jeremy  Beiknap  and  Mv.  Thomas  Wallcut  :  it  was  at 
first  supported  by  the  labours  of  a  few,  and  not  sufficiently 
favoured  by  the  publick  :  it  has  since  enrolled  among  its 
members  many  of  our  first  scholars,  and  now  claims  a  very 
considerable  reputation  among  the  literary  institutions  of 
America. 

The  Boston  Library  Society  was  incorporated,  June  17, 
1794.  The  object  of  the  associates  was  to  make  a  collection 
of  books  in  the  sciences  and  general  literature,  for  popular 
use  ;  more  particularly  of  those  works,  which,  from  their  cost- 
liness or  peculiar  value,  are  not  generally  found  in  private 
collections,  and  cannot  conveniently  be  obtained  by  individu- 
als of  moderate  fortune.  The  plan  has  been  diligently  and 
successfully  pursued,  and  with  the  aid  of  occasional  dona- 
tions, the  Library  is  now  as  complete  in  works  of  general  util- 
ity, as  any  similar  institution  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The 
books  amount  to  about  6500  volumes,  and  their  number  is 
continually  increasing.  To  gratify  the  increasing  taste  for 
foreign  literature,  a  collection  of  the  best  French  authors  has 
been  added  :  many  recent  and  valuable  English  works  have 
been  imported  the  present  season.  For  some  years  after  the 
Library  was  founded,  the  shares  were  not  transferable,  and 
subscribers  had  only  the  use  of  the  library  for  their  lives  ; 
consequently,  by  the  death  of  original  proprietors,  many 
shares  have  fallen  into  the  common  stock,  which  has  given  to 
the  shares  of  present  proprietors  a  value  far  beyond  their 
cost.  It  is  computed,  that  a  share  at  the  present  price  gives 
a  property  in  the  common  stock  greatly  exceeding  the  cost  of 
a  share,  exclusive  of  the  value  of  the  Hall,  which  is  the  prop- 
erty of  the  corporation.  The  price  of  a  share  is  $25,  subject 
usually  to  an  annual  tax  of  $2,  for  the  increase  of  the  Library 
and  the  charges  of  maintaining  it.  This  assessment  is  deter- 
mined by  the  major  vote  of  the  proprietors.  Shares  are  now 
transferable,  and  do  not  cease  at  the  death  of  the  proprietor. 
The  Library  is  open  at  the  Hall  over  the  arch  in  Franklin- 
street,  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursdays,  and  the  forenoon  and 
afternoon  of  Saturdays,  for  the  delivery  of  books. 

The  Columbian  Library,  kept  in  Boylston-Hall,  is  estab- 
lished on  principles  somewhat  similar,  and  contains  4500 
volumes.* 


•  There  are  also  in  Boston  about  six  Circulating  Libraries,  containing  extensive   assort- 
ments of  modern  literature,  open  to  publick  use  at  very  moderate  charges. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  357 

The  Athen-eum.  For  several  years,  individuals  in  this  me- 
tropolis had  expressed  their  wishes  that  there  might  be  es- 
tablished here  a  publick  rending  room,  to  be  kept  constantly 
open,  and  to  contain  all  the  valuable  journals,  foreign  and 
domestick  periodical  publications,  hooks  of  general  reference, 
and  other  works  adapted  to  such  a  place  of  resort.  It  was 
thought  that  an  establishment  of  this  kind  would  receive  lib- 
eral support.  Having  these  impressions,  a  society  of  gentle- 
men, who  conducted  a  literary  publication,  (the  Monthly 
Anthology,*)  in  the  year  1806,  issued  proposals,  in  which 
they  engaged  to  provide  a  room  of  the  forementioned  descrip- 
tion, open  at  ten  dollars  annually  to  each  subscriber.  The 
subscription  list  was  soon  filled  with  a  large  number  of  re- 
spectable names.  In  consequence  of  this  success,  it  was  de- 
termined to  extend  the  plan  by  adding  a  library  to  the  foun- 
dation. 

By  the  time  the  journals  and  periodical  publications  were 
received,  more  than  a  thousand  volumes  of  valuable  works, 
principally  donations,  were  collected.  At  this  stage  of  the 
undertaking,  the  gentlemen  who  had  commenced  and  so  far 
conducted  it,  in  order  more  effectually  to  secure  and  diffuse 
the  benefit  of  their  past  labour  and  expense,  and  realize  their 
wishes  of  a  respectable  establishment,  transferred  their  right 
and  title  in  the  Anthology  Reading  Room  and  Library  to 
Trustees,  with  power  to  supply  vacancies  in  their  number,  and 
to  hold  and  manage  said  Reading  Room  and  Library  as  a 
trust  under  their  then  present  name.  At  the  winter  session 
of  the  Legislature  in  1307,  the  proprietors  were  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Boston  Athenaeum. 

The  rooms  of  this  institution  were  first  opened  in  Congress 
street,  from  whence  they  removed  to  Scollay's  build- 
ings, and,  in  1810,  to  the  building  on  Common  street,  north 
of  the  Chapel  burial  ground.  Here  they  remained  until 
182^, when  they  removed  to  the  spacious  edifice  in  Pearl  street. 
The  better  half  of  this  elegant  and  commodious  building  was 
presented  to  the  institution  by  the  late  James  Perkins  Esq  : 
the  other  half  they  purchased  at  the  price  of  $15,300.  The 
requisite  alterations  have  been  made  in  its  interior,  and  the 
rooms  have,  been  so  disposed,  and  the  library  so  arranged,  as 
to  furnish  every  desirable  facility  and  accommodation  to 
those  who  visit  the  establishment. 

On  entering  the  Athenaeum  the  visiter  finds  himself  sur- 
rounded with  the  busts  and  statues  of  heroes  and  learned 
men  of  antiquity,  who  seem  to  bid  him,  in  the  salveto 
on  the  tablet  before  him,  Welcome  !  At  his  left,  on  the  first 
floor,  is  the  Reading  room,  in  which  are  found  the  newspapers 


Monthly  Anthology,  for  May,  1807. 


358  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON". 

and  journals  of  the  present  day,  with  complete  files  of  peri- 
odical publications  for  many  years  back.  On  the  right  is 
the  Room  of  the  American  Academy,  in  which  is  deposited 
their  library  of  2000  volumes,  principally  works  of  science 
and  philosophical  transactions  of  foreign  societies.  The  li- 
brarian's room  and  a  conversation  room,  complete  the  apart- 
ments on  the  lower  story. 

On  the  second  floor  are  found  in  the  1st  Room,  Works 
relative  to  American  History;  in  the  2d,  Political  and  Mili- 
tary Works  ;  in  the  3d,  Metaphysicks  and  Theology,  which 
includes'  the  Theological  Library,'  belonging  to  another  asso- 
ciation and  containing  2000  volumes  ;  in  the  4th,  Belles  Let- 
tres,  and  Miscellaneous  Works  ;  in  the  5th,  Encyclopaedias  ; 
in  the  6th,  History,  Geography,  Travels,  Biography.  As- 
cending into  the  third  story,  we  find  in  room  No.  7  a  collec- 
tion of  tracts  amounting  to  near  10,000,  collected  principally 
by  the  indefatigable  perseverance  of  Mr.  Wm.  S.  Shaw. 
Room  No.  8  contains  the  publications  of  Learned  Societies  ; 
No.  9,  works  on  Agriculture,  Natural  History  and  Botany  ; 
No.  10,  Works  in  the  Arts  and  Sciences,  Architecture,  Chem- 
istry ,&c.  No.  11,  the  Greek  and  Roman  Classics,  and  trans- 
lations.    No.  12,  Engravings,&c.    Whole  No.  of  vols.  17,500. 

The  price  of  a  share  in  this  institution  is  $300,  which  enti- 
tles a  proprietor  to  to  three  tickets  of  admission.  A  life  sub- 
scriber pays  $100.  Annual  subscribers  are  admitted  at  $10 
per  annum.  A  proprietor  or  life  subscriber  may  introduce 
company  to  view  the  Athenseutn. 

Omitting  some  minor  literary  associations,  we  proceed  to  no- 
tice a  few  of  our  charitable  institutions.  Besides  the  publick 
provision  for  the  destitute  of  all  descriptions,  which  is  so  am- 
ple that  no  one  need  to  suffer  any  privation,  who  is  able  to 
make  known  his  case  to  an  overseer  of  the  poor,  there  are 
numerous  societies  established  in  Boston,  whose  object  is  the 
alleviation  of  human  misery. 

The  Massachusetts  Humane  Society  was  established  by  law 
Feb.  23,  1791.  The  design  of  their  institution  is 'the  re- 
covery  of  persons  who  meet  with  such  accidents  as  produce  in 
them  the  appearance  of  death,  and  for  promoting  the  cause  of 
humanity,  by  pursuing  such  means,  from  time  to  time,  as  shall 
have  for  their  object  the  preservation  of  human  life,  and  the 
alleviation  of  its  miseries.' 

The  Mass.  Charitable  Fire  Society,  incorporated,  June  25, 
1794,  was  instituted  to  provide  means  to  relieve  such  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  commonwealth  as  may  unfortunately  suffer 
by  fire,  and  to  reward  the  industry  and  ingenuity  of  those 
who  may  invent  useful  machines  for  extinguishing  fires,  or 
make  extraordinary  personal  exertion  in  the  time  of  such  ca- 
lamity, or  make  such  discoveries  for  preventing  its  devastation 
as  shall  be  thought  worthy  of  their  patronage. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  359 

The  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanick  Association  was  in- 
stituted March  15,  1795,  by  a  number  of  publick  spirited  in- 
dividuals, of  the  most  industrious  and  respectable  of  the  me- 
chanick interest  ;  of  various  occupations,  residing  in  different 
parts  of  the  town  ;  who  styled  themselves  the  '  Boston  Asso- 
ciation of  Mechanicks.'  In  a  few  months  the  society  increas- 
ed much  in  numbers,  resources,  and  usefulness.  With  the 
increase  of  its  numbers,  and  means,  its  views  became  enlarg- 
ed, its  utility  more  apparent,  and  a  laudable  emulation  perva- 
ded a  considerable  part  of  the  community  to  raise  the  me- 
chanick interest  and  character  to  its  just  grade  in  society. 
The  associates,  in  order  to  extend  the  benefits  of  the  institu- 
tion, altered  the  original  appellation,  and  voted  to  assume  the 
title  of  The  Association  of  Mechanicks  of  the  commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts,'  which  gave  opportunity  for  qualified  citi- 
zens throughout  the  commonwealth  to  offer  themselves  as 
candidates  for  membership  ;  and  some  few  embraced  this 
privilege  and  became  members,  besides  those  residing  in  Bos- 
ton. But  the  society  laboured  under  many  disadvantages 
previous  to  its  incorporation,  March  8,  1806,  eleven  years 
from  its  institution  ; — when  its  fair  claims  became  acknowl- 
edged, the  characters  and  conduct  of  its  founders,  officers, 
and  members,  were  deemed  sufficient  pledges  of  the  purity 
of  their  intentions  ;  and  one  of  its  primary  principles  being 
ingrafted  in  its  title,  it  was,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  incor- 
porated by  its  present  name.* 


*  Among  other  objects  of  publick  utility,  connected  with  this  institution,  are  the  Appren- 
tices' Library,  and  the  encouragement  of  ingenuity  and  excellence  of  workmanship  among 
the  mechanicks  and  manufacturers  of  this  commonwealth,  by  an  annual  exhibition  of  pre- 
mium articles  ;  for  the  best  of  which,  suitable  premiums  are  awarded,  by  judges  selected 
for  that  purpose  ;  in  awarding  which,  all  other  things  being  equal,  preference  is  first  given 
to  an  apprentice,  then  to  a  journeyman,  before  the  master-workman.  The  first  publick  exhi- 
bition of  premium  articles  was  on  July  4,  1818. 

The  Apprentices'  Library,  established  in  this  city  in  1820,  and  which  is  under  the  super- 
vision of  this  Association,  is  an  institution,  which,  if  judiciously  managed,  is  calculated  to 
have  a  beneficial  effect  on  the  minds  and  morals  of  those  who  enjoy  its  privileges.  As  a 
proof  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  Apprentices'  Libraries  are  held,  we  have  only  to  no- 
tice the  increasing  popularity  of  them  throughout  our  country  :  and  even  England,  in  this 
instance,  has  not  disdained  to  copy  from  ber  descendants.  To  Boston  belongs  the  honour  of 
having  been  the  first  to  establish  this  valuable  institution.— Wells'  and  Cory's  Addresses. 

In  connection  with  this  society  we  should  also  notice  t lie  Donation  of  Franklin,  who  by 
his  last  will  bequeathed  a  thousand  pounds  sterling  to  the  town  of  Boston,  '  to  be  let  out  up- 
on interest  at  five  per  cent,  per  ann.  to  such  young  married  artificers  as  have  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship in  said  town,  and  faithfully  fulfilled  the  duties  required  by  their  indentures,  so 
as  to  obtain  a  good  moral  character  from  at  least  two  respectable  citizens,  who  are  willing 
to  become  their  sureties.'  The  amount  of  this  fund,  by  the  last  annual  report,  was  14,4.51 
dots.  83  cts. 


360  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

The  Boston  Dispensary  was  instituted  in  1795,  and  incorpo- 
rated, Feb.  26,  1801.  At  the  expence  of  this  institution  the 
poor  are  supplied  with  medicines,  and  they  are  gratuitously 
attended  by  physicians  appointed  yearly  by  the  managers.  A 
subscriber  of  five  dollars  is  entitled  to  tickets  for  two  patients, 
which  number  he  may  keep  constantly  on  the  list  of  the  Dis- 
pensary. 

The  Boston  Female  Asylum  was  instituted  Sept.  25,  1800, 
by  a  number  of  ladies,  who  associated  for  the  charitable  pur- 
pose of  relieving,  instructing,  employing,  and  assisting  female 
orphan  children.  They  were  incorporated  Feb.  26,  1803. 
The  success  which  has  attended  this  institution  has  equalled 
the  most  benevolent  expectations.  The  society  has  rescued 
from  ruin  and  distress  a  great  number  of  fatherless  and  moth- 
erless girls,  who  have,  under  its  protection,  been  nourished 
and  brought  up  to  habits  of  industry  and  piety.  The  asylum- 
house  is  situated  in  Essex  st.  corner  of  Lincoln  st. 

The  Howard  Benevolent  Society  was  organized,  June  1,1812, 
and  incorporated  Feb.  16,  1818.  Their  object  is  to  search 
out  and  administer  to  the  wants  of  the  sick  and  the  infirm  ; 
'  more  especially  of  that  class  of  our  fellow-citizens,  who,  not 
being  connected  with  any  religious  society,  are  in  no  way 
benefitted  by  the  provisions  made  in  most  of  them  for  the  re- 
lief of  their  poor.' 

The  Boston  Asylum  for  Indigent  Boys  was  incorporated  Feb. 
25,  1814.  Its  object  is  to  make  similar  provision  for  orphan 
boys,  to  that  which  has  been  so  usefully  made  for  girls  by  the 
Female  Asylum.  This  institution  occupies  the  large  house  on 
the  corner  of  Salem  and  Charter  streets,  formerly  the  resi- 
dence of  Sir  William  Phip?. 

The  Provident  Institution  for  Savings  was  incorporated  Dec. 
13,  1816.  This  society  is  intended  to  encourage  industry 
and  prudence  in  the  poorer  classes,  and  to  induce  them  to 
save  and  lay  by  something  of  their  earnings  for  a  period  of 
life  when  they  will  be  less  able  to  earn  a  support.  Deposits 
are  received  as  low  as  one  dollar,  and  when  any  person's 
deposits  amount  to  five  dollars,  it  is  put  on  interest.  The  de- 
posits may  be  withdrawn  on  stated  days,  if  desired.  The  of- 
fice of  this  institution  is  open  every  Wednesday,  in  Scollay's 
buildings. 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Religious  and  Moral  Instruction 
of  the  Poor  was  incorporated  in  the  year  1820.  Through  the 
exertions  of  this  society,  schools  for  the  poor  have  been  insti- 
tuted in  various  parts  of  the  town,  the  gospel  has  been  preach- 
to  them,  and  pains  have  been  taken  to  raise  the  standard  ot 
moral  character  among  them. 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  361 

The  Penitent  Females'1  Refuge  is  an  institution  formed  with 
the  hope  of  reclaiming,  from  the  paths  of  vice  and  ruin,  a  por- 
tion of  those  unhappy  women,  whose  false  steps  have  blasted 
their  prospects  of  enjoying  a  reputable  standing  in  life. 
A  house  of  refuge  is  opened  by  this  society,  for  such  as  are 
sincerely  desirous  of  returning  to  the  paths  of  virtue.  This 
house,  which  is  large  and  commodious,  is  under  the  care  of  a 
matron  and  assistants  :  a  committee  of  ladies  visit  it  every 
week,  and  the  pecuniary  concerns  are  under  the  management 
of  a  Board  of  Directors,  chosen  annually  from  the  gentlemen 
who  are  subscribers  to  the  funds  of  the  institution — Constitu- 
tion adopted  April  14,  1819  :  incorporated  Jan.  21,  1323. 

Some  account  of  the  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  will 
conclude  our  notices  on  this  head.  Towards  the  close  of  the 
last  century  a  gentleman  died  in  this  town,  leaving  a  bequest 
in  his  will  of  $5000  towards  the  building  of  a  hospital.  This 
circumstance  was  attended  with  the  beneficial  effect  of  awa« 
kening  the  attention  of  the  publick  to  the  subject.  Nothing, 
however,  was  effected  before  August,  1810,  when  two  physi- 
cians living  in  this  town  addressed  a  circular,  in  which  the 
advantages  of  a  hospital  were  stated,  to  several  gentlemen  of 
Boston  possessed  of  ample  fortunes,  and  disposed  to  contribute 
to  institutions  in  which  the  publick  good  was  concerned.  In 
the  beginning  of  1811  (Feb.  25)  fifty-six  gentlemen,  living  in 
different  parts  of  the  commonwealth.were  incorporated  by  the 
name  of  the  Mass.  General  Hospital.  Their  charter  allowed 
the  corporation  to  hold  property  to  the  amount  of  $30,000 
3~early  income.  It  also  granted  to  the  Hospital  a  fee  simple 
in  the  estate  of  the  old  Province  House,  on  the  condition  that 
$100,000  should  be  raised  by  subscription  within  ten  years. 
Little  exertion  was  made  before  the  autumn  of  1816,  when  a 
subscription  was  commenced  that  was  attended  with  uncom- 
mon success.  In  the  towns  of  Boston,  Salem,  Plymouth, 
Charlestown,  Hingham  and  Chelsea  (including  a  few  sub- 
scriptions in  some  other  towns)  1047  individuals  subscribed 
either  to  the  Hospital  or  the  Asylum  for  the  insane.  More 
than  200  of  these  contributed  $l'/0  or  more,  and  several  from 
1000  to  5000,  and  one  $20,000.  Donations  of  equal  and 
larger  amounts  have  since  been  made,  which  have  increased 
the  funds  of  this  institution,  for  immediate  use  and  permanent 
stock,  to  a  greater  sum  than  any  other  among  us  has  realized, 
excepting  the  University  at  Cambridge. 

In  1816,  the  Trustees  purchased  the  estate  at  Charlestown, 
belonging  to  the  late  Mr.  Barrcll,  commonly  called  Poplar 
Grove,  and  have  there  built  two  brick  houses,  besides  the 
requisite  out  houses.  In  1817,  they  purchased  four  acres  in 
a  field  at  the  west  end  of  Boston,  called  Prince's  Pasture,  and 
46 


362  HISTOllY    OF    BOSTON. 

on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1818,  the  corner  stone  of  the  present 
Hospital  was  there  laid,  in  the  presence  of  many  persons  of 
great  dignity  in  publick  life,  and  of  a  numerous  assemblage 
of  citizens.  The  civil,  religious  and  masonick  services  were 
performed  with  such  impressive  pomp  as  rendered  the  whole 
scene  truly  solemn  and  interesting.  This  building  was  so  far 
completed  on  the  first  of  Sept.  1821,  as  to  be  in  a  fit  condition 
to  receive  patients.  The  Asylum  for  the  Insane  had  been 
opened  for  the  reception  of  boarders,  October  1,  1818.* 

Besides  these  institutions  whose  views  extend  to  society  at 
large,  we  ought  to  name  many  others,  whose  efforts  in  the 
cause  of  benevolence  are  equally  ardent,  though  the  objects 
of  their  charity  are  more  limited;  such  as  the  Female  Samar- 
itan and  the  Fragment  Societies,  (supported  by  ladies  for  the 
relief  of  necessitous  women  and  children  ;)  the  Fatherless  and 
Widows'  society;  the  Society  for  employment  of  the  poor;  So- 
ciety for  the  relief  of  the  distressed  ;  the  Episcopal  charitable 
society,  the  British  charitable,  the  Irish  charitable,  the  Mass. 
charitable,  and  the  Fuel  Societies.  &,c.  These  institutions 
embrace  among  their  members  almost  every  individual  who 
maintains  a  respectable  standing  in  the  community.  And  if  we 
add  to  these  the  numerous  religious  associations  for  missiona- 
ry and  benevolent  purposes,  we  may,  without  vanity,  adopt 
concerning  Boston  the  language  of  Increase  Mather,  when 
he  said,  that  "  for  charity,  he  might  indeed  speak  it  without 
flattery,  this  town  hath  not  many  equals  on  the  face  of  the 
earth." 


1  *  Tbe  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  has  been  pronounced  the  finest  building  in  the 
State.  It  stands  on  a  small  eminence  (B  e)  open  to  the  south,  east,  and  west.  It  is  168  ft.  in 
length  and  54  in  its  greatest  breadth,  havinga  portico  of  eight  Ionick  columns  in  front.  It  is 
built  of  Chelmsford  granite,  the  columns  and  their  capitals  being  of  the  same  material.  In 
the  centre  of  the  two  principal  stories  are  the  rooms  of  the  officers  of  the  institution.  Above 
these  is  the  operating  theatre  which  is  lighted  from  the  dome.  The  wings  of  the  building 
are  divided  into  wards  and  sick  rooms.  The  stair  cases  and  floorings  of  the  entries  are  of 
Stone.  The  whole  house  is  supplied  with  heat  by  air-flues  from  furnaces,  and  with  water  by 
pipes  and  a  forcing  pump.  The  beautiful  hills  which  surround  Boston  are  seen  from  every 
part  of  the  building,  and  the  grounds  on  the  south  west  are  washed  by  the  waters  of  the  bay 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  363 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

O, sir, you  are  old  ; 
Nature  in  you  stands  on  the  very  verge 
Of  her  confine;  you  should  be  rul'd  and  led 
By  some  discretion,  that  discerns  your  state 
Better  than  you  yourself.  King Ltar. 

We  have  already  noticed  three  ineffectual  attempts  to  ob- 
tain for  the  town  of  Boston  the  name  and  privileges  of  a  city. 
That  in  1651  (seep.  137)  was  probably  made  in  accordance 
with  the  wishes  of  a  majority  ;  that  in  1708,  we  have  seen, 
was  accounted  as  an  experiment  fraught  with  mischief;  and  in 
1762,  the  proposition  was  unanimously  rejected.  From  that 
period  we  hear  nothing  more  of  the  project  until  1784;  in 
which  year,on  the  1 1  th  of  May,  the  town  was  called  to  consid- 
er the  expediency  of  an  application  for  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion. The  subject  produced  '  a  long  debate,  which  was  very 
masterly  handled  by  the  several  speakers,  though  not  without 
a  small  degree  of  tartness  ;  but  concluded  in  the  appointment 
of  a  committee  of  13,  to  report  whether  there  were  defects  in 
the  existing  mode  of  government,  and, if  necessary,to  report  a 
plan  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  police.'  The  Committee 
reported,  on  the  4th  of  June,  two  distinct  plans,  one  of  which 
proposed  to  vest  the  government  in  a  Mayor,  Recorder,  and 
12  Aldermen,  and  24  Common  council  men  ;  the  other,  to 
delegate  nearly  the  same  powers  to  12  Selectmen  (one  from 
each  ward)  joined  with  a  President  and  six  selectmen"  chosen 
at  large.  The  discussion  on  this  report  was  '  lengthy,  but 
displayed  the  greatest  candour  and  liberality  of  sentiment ;'  it 
closed  with  a  motion  to  print  the  report  and  adjourn  to  the 
17th  of  June.  The  adjourned  meeting  proved  a  very  tumul- 
tuous one.  Several  gentlemen  endeavoured  to  'fix  the  atten- 
tion of  the  town  to  the  subject  before  them, but  their  arguments 
were  drowned  in  the  incessant  shouts  for  the  question.  Dr. 
Charles  Jarvis,  peculiarly  a  man  of  the  people,- though  now 
on  the  unpopular  side,  caught  their  attention  for  a  few  mo- 
ments :  he  concluded  his  remarks  with  a  hope  '  that  every 
man,  rich  and  poor,  might  be  heard  in  his  turn  ;  that  the  con- 
fusion that  had  commenced  might  subside;  that  love,  friend- 
ship and  urbanity  might  pervade  the  hall.'  The  momentary 
quietude  was  succeeded  by  a  general  cry  of  No  corporation — 
No  Mayor  and  Aldermen, — No  innovations,  all  echoed  with  un- 
abated roaring.  Many  gentlemen  of  character  left  the  hall. 
As  soon  as  the  honourable  moderator  (Thos.  Dawes  Esq.)  had 


364  IliSJuUY    OF     CGSTON. 

it  in  his  power,  the  motion  was  put,  and  the  vote  was  carried 
against  the  proposed  alterations. ' 

This  repulse  did  not  dishearten  the  friends  of  a  reform. 
They  renewed  their  petition  the  next  year  (Nov.  1,  1785) 
but  were  received  with  less  attention  hy  the  town,  who  imme- 
diately gave  leave  for  them  to  withdraw.  In  1792,  another 
plan  was  brought  forward,  which  simply  proposed  to  create  a 
town  council,  to  be  composed  of  the  Selectmen,  chosen  as 
theretofore,  and  of  three  persons  to  be  chosen  from  each  of 
the  wards  (of  which  the  town  should  be  divided  into  nine.) 
This  council  was  to  be  invested  with  the  powers  of  the  town 
in  its  corporate  capacity,  to  make  by-laws  and  appoint  inferior 
officers.  The  principal  effect  of  the  change  would  have  been 
to  render  frequent  town-meetings  unnecessary.  It  was  also 
proposed  to  petition  the  court  for  the  establishment  of  a  muni- 
cipal judge,  who  should  have  cognizance  of  all  minor  prosecu- 
tions for  causes  arising  within  the  town.  Several  meetings 
were  held,  and  the  debates,  which  in  the  early  stage  were 
simply  eloquent  and  warm,  at  last  became  turbulent  and  agi- 
tated, and  the  question  was  put  to  rest  (Jan.  26th)  by  a  vote 
of  701  against  517.  Persons  of  both  the  great  political  par- 
ties, which  began  by  this  time  to  be  distinctly  marked,  were 
found  on  each  side.  The  name  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Austin  is 
prominent  among  the  opponents,  and  that  of  Mr.  Sullivan  (since 
Governour)  among  the  friends  of  the  measure. 

In  1804,  Jan.  12,  two  persons  were  chosen  by  each  ward 
to  compose  a  committee  to  devise  a  new  system  of  govern- 
ment. A  plan  was  matured,  and  being  taken  into  considera- 
tion by  the  town,  April  9th,  after  some  debate  it  also  was  re- 
jected. '  A  very  great  number  of  our  citizens,'  however, 
retained  the  '  wish  that  the  name  of  City  should  be  adopted  ; 
being  of  opinion  that  this  name  has  an  effect  to  raise  the  rank 
of  a  place  in  the  estimation  of  foreigners,  and  is  better  adap- 
ted than  the  name  of  Town  to  express  our  real  standing  com- 
pared with  the  other  cities  of  the  Union.1  This  with  other 
considerations  occasioned  another  application  to  the  town,  in 
1815,  to  obtain  their  consent  to  the  adoption  of  the  discrimi- 
nating appellation,  universally  given  to  their  most  distinguish- 
ed places,  by  the  practice  of  all  European  powers.'  Under 
the  proposed  system,  said  a  committee,  '  town-meetings  will 
continue  to  be  held  and  all  questions  relative  to  our  political 
rights  and  interests  to  be  discussed  in  them  ;  a  course  of  pro- 
ceeding happily  as  inseparable  from  the  genius  of  our  consti- 
tution as  it  is  justly  dear  to  the  affections  of  our  citizens.'* 
Yet  even  with  this  reservation,  the  people  could  not  be  per- 
suaded to  adopt    the    improvements   recommended.     Here  it 

*  Report,  of  Committee,  Oct.  16,1815. 


HISTOID    OF   BOSTON.  365 

was  thought  the  question  was  'put  to  rest  for  some  years  :' 
but  various  causes  conspired  to  revive  it  in  182i,  and  in  1822 
it  was  determined  by  the  establishment  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment. 

Experience  had  proved  that  there  was  no  real  obstacle  to 
the  passage  of  a  long  code  of  excellent  by-laws,  adapted  to 
every  imaginable  coutingenc}?.  Oliicers  too  were  not  want- 
ing, whose  duty  and  interest  it  was  to  carry  them  into  execu- 
tion. There  were  nine  Selectmen  (whose  chairman  had  been 
customarily  superintendent  of  Police)  12  overseers  of  the 
poor,  30  Firewards  and  a  School  Committee  of  12,  annually 
chosen  at  March  meeting.*  A  Board  of  Health,  consisting  of 
12  members  (one  chosen  by  each  ward)  had  the  regulation 
of  Quarantine,  and  all  such  affairs,  as  concerned  the  health 
of  the  inhabitants.  The  town  in  publick  meeting  voted  the 
amount  of  its  annual  taxes,  and  these  were  assessed  by  a  board 
composed  of  24  members  (two  for  each  ward)  called  Assis- 
tant Assessors,  and  three  others,  selected  by  the  assistants  to 
be  Permanent  Assessors.  A  Town  Treasurer  and  Town 
Clerk  completed  the  list  of  municipal  officers.  Each  of  these 
boards  performed  their  duties  with  alacrity  and  fidelity,  yet 
there  was  a  universal  complaint  that  every  by-law  was  in- 
fringed with  impunity,  and  the  want  of  '  one  efficient  respon- 
sible head,'  to  take  the  lead  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and 
maintain  a  general  oversight,  was  extensive!}?  felt. 

There  were  serious  complaints  too  of  the  expense  attending 
the  Justices' courts.  As  the  judicial  concerns  of  the  county 
stood  regulated  by  law,  man}'  petty  suits  were  constantly 
brought  by  parties  unable  to  pay  the  costs,  and  the  justices 
of  the  peace  whose  duty  it  was  to  sit  in  judgment,  had  no  al- 
ternative but  to  charge  the  same  to  the  county,  or  in  other 
words  to  the  town.t  Some  abuses  were  thought  to  exist  in 
this  system,  and  a  committee  was  appointed,  July  2,  1821,  to 
consider  and  report  thereon. 

The  report  of  this  committee  was  laid  before  the  town, 
Oct.  22d  ;  and  the  consideration  of  it  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  another  committee,  who  were  authorized  to  report 
'  a  complete  system  relating  to  the  administration  of  the  town 
and  county,  which  shall  remedy  the  present  evils,  and  to  re- 
commend any  other  measures  calculated  to  create  a  more 
efficient,  responsible,  and  acceptable  S3'stem  for  Town  and 
County  Government.'      This  committee  consisted  of  Messrs. 


*  The  town  also  chose  at  March  meetings,  20  surveyors  of  boards,  6  fence  viewers,  6  cul- 
lers of  hoops,  9  cullers  of  dry  fish,  4  field  drivers,  3  inspectors  of  lime,  2  surveyors  of  hemp,  2 
surveyors  of  wheat,  and  2  assay  masters. 

t  Of  the  County  tax,  1820,  which  was  30,000  dote.  Chelsea  paid  231,60.  In  1821,  or 
25,332,52,  Chelsea  paid  187,63, 


o66  HISTJUY    OF    UOS'fON. 

John  Phillips,  Wm.  Sullivan,  Charles  Jackson,  Wm.  Prescolt, 
Wm.  Tudor,  Geo.  Blake,  Henry  Orne,  Daniel  Webster,  Isaac 
Winslow,   Lemuel  Shaw,   Stephen   Codman,    Joseph  Tilden. 
Their   report    made  on   the  10th  of  Dec.  was  not  sufficiently 
strong  in  favour  of  a  city  government  :  people  were  ready  to 
enjoy  the  satisfaction  of  accepting  or  refusing  something  bet- 
ter.    The   committee   was  enlarged,  with  directions  to  report 
such  a  system  as  was  'contemplated  by  the  amendment  of  the 
constitution,  authorizing   the  General  Court  to  constitute  city 
governments.'      Accordingly,   on    Monday   the   31st    day  of 
Dec.  the  town  was  called  together  to   consider  and  act   upon 
such  a  system.     The  first  step  at  this  meeting  was  the  deter- 
mination  to  take  a   final  question    on    the  subject,  by  written 
vote,  on  the  Monday  following  :  then  the  report  was  taken  up 
by  paragraphs.     A  motion  to  retain    the    name   of   Town  of 
Boston  was  made,  and  warmly  advocated,  but  was  negatived. 
The  committee  had  proposed  to  call  the  chief  officer    of  the 
city    by   the  name   of    *  Intendant  :'    this    was    changed    to 
'  Mayor.'     The  committee  proposed  a    board    of  '  seven  se- 
lectmen ;'    the  town  voted  a   board  of  eight  Aldermen,  and 
instead  of  a  'Board  of  Assistants,'  recommended  by  the  com- 
mittee, a  board  of  Common  Councilmen  was  determined  upon. 
The  Mayor  and   Aldermen   were   to  be  chosen    by  general 
ticket,  by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  city  voting   in     wards  : 
each   ward  was  to  choose  four  Common  Councilmen.     The 
Mayor  and  Aldermen,  sitting   and   acting    together,   were    to 
compose  one  body  ;  and  the  board    of   Common   Council    to 
compose  a  separate  body  ;-  and  both  together  (each  having  a 
negative  upon  the  other)  constitute  the  City  Council.     These 
provisions  were  accepted.     The  committee  proposed  to  give 
the  City  Council  power  to  choose  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Fire- 
wards  and  the  School  Committee,  but  the  vote  prevailed,  that 
those  officers  should   be   chosen  in   wards.     All  other  corpo- 
rate powers,  possessed   by   the  town,  were    delegated    to  the 
City  Council,  except  the  right  to  sell  or   lease    the   Common 
and  Faneuil  Hall,    which   was    reserved.     The  organization 
of  the  wards,  which  became  necessary  as  a  part  of  the  propo- 
sed system,  was  arranged  by  a  provision   for  the  choice  of  a 
warden,  clerk,  and  five  inspectors  of  elections  in  each  ward. 
The  plan  was  completed  by  the  proposal  of  one  Police  Court, 
which  should  have  cognizance  of  all  offences  against  the   by- 
laws of  the  city,  and  of   all  minor  causes  usually  decided  by 
Justices  of  the  peace. 

The  discussions  on  this  subject  occupied  three  successive 
days,  and  called  some  of  the  first  talents  of  the  town  into  ex- 
ercise. Faneuil-Hall  was  thronged,  yet  every  thing  proceed- 
ed very  orderly.  Several  questions  arising,  which  were 
thought  too  important  to  be  decided  by  hand  vote,  they  were 


HISTORY    or   BOSTON*.  367 

postponed  to  be  determined  by  the  ballot  on  the  final  ques- 
tion. Every  thing  being  matured,  the  meeting  adjourned  on 
Wednesday,  to  meet  again  on  Monday,  Jan.  7,  1822,  to  de- 
cide on  the  report  as  amended,  when  the  result  of  the  ballot- 
ing was  as  follows  : 

Whole  No.  of  votes  4839. 

1st  Resolve — Shall  there  be  a  City  Government  ?      -      •■         Yeas....2805 

Nays....2C06 
2d  Resolve.— Shall  the  elective  United  States  and  State  Officers 

be  chosen  in  Wards  ?       Yeas....2611 

Nays....2195 
3d  Resolve.— Shall  the  City  Council  decide  the  number  of  Rep- 
resentatives                  Yeas....2690 

Nays....2128 

4th  Resolve. — Shall  the  Town  be  a  County,  and  have  a  Police  Court?      Yeas....4SS7 

Nays 257 

5th  Resolve. — Shall  the  name  be  altered  from  Town   of  Bos- 
ton to  City  of  Boston  ?      Yeas....2727 

Nays....2087 

There  was  no  little  disappointment  occasioned  by  this  re- 
sult :  the  warm  friends  of  a  city  had  hoped  for  a  larger  ma- 
jority in  their  favour  an  the .  first  question,  and  for  a  strong 
negative  against  the  second  :  the  opponents  of  the  reform 
would  not  believe,  till  they  had  the  demonstration,  that  the 
people  of  Boston  would  yield  up  their  birth-right  of  self  gov- 
ernment and  self  protection,  for  what  some  considered  the 
mere  tinsel  of  a  name.  The  feature  in  the  system,  which 
more  than  any  other  circumstance  saved  it  from  being  reject- 
ed, was  that  part  which  gave  to  the  wards  the  right  to  choose 
overseers,  school  committee,  and  firewards.  As  those  boards 
had  heretofore  been  chosen,  it  had  happened  for  the  most  part 
that  all  the  members  were  selected  from  the  political  party, 
which  for  many  years  had  been  the  majority  of  the  town. 
Some  of  the  minority  thought  the  present  offered  them  a  fa- 
vourable opportunity  to  secure  a  portion  of  those  boards  to 
their  own  party  :  and  that,  together  with  the  general  desire  to 
effect  a  reform  in  the  justices"  courts,  and  the  belief  that  such 
a  reform  could  not  be  effected,  otherwise  than  in  connection 
with  the  establishment  of  a  city  government,  probably  turned 
the  scale. 

The  subject  was  forthwith  presented  to  the  legislature,  and 
a  law,  framed  on  the  principles  of.  the  report,  reeeived  the 
signature  of  Governour  Brooks,  Feb  23,  1822.  The  act  re- 
served to  the  General  Court  the  right  to  alter  or  amend  the 
charter  whenever  they  should  deem  it  expedient  :  it  also  pro- 
vided that  the  charter  should  be  void,  unless  the  inhabitants 
of  Boston  should  accept  it  by  written  vote  within  12  days. 
The  former  of  these  provisions  was   thought  by  some  to  be 


368  HISTORY    Ol     BOSTON. 

very  exceptionable  ;  others  considered  it  perfectly  nugatory. 
The  hitter  was  in  accordance  with  a  proposition  which  had 
been  offered  to  the  town  and  rejected  ;  but  those,  who  were 
gratified  by  this  opportunity  once  more  to  attempt  the  defeat 
of  the  whole  plan,  were  obliged  also  to  submit  again  their  fa- 
vourite feature  (the  choice  of  national  and  state  officers  by 
election  in  wards)  to  the  hazard  of  a  rejection.  The  final 
meeting  took  place  on  the  fourth  of  March,  when  a  decision 
was  obtained  in  favour  of  the  charter  by  a  majority  of  916, 
(2797  to  1881,)  and  in  favour  of  election  in  wards  by  a  vote 
of  2813  to  1887.  The  result  was  forthwith  made  known  to 
the  Governour,  and  he  announced  the  fact  by  proclamation 
on  the  seventh  of  March. 


CHAPTER  LXII. 

"    -    -    -     The  patriot  Council  met,  the  full. 
The  tree,  and  fairly  represented  whole ; 
For  all  thej-  plaim'd  the  holy  guardian  laws, 
Distinguish'd  orders,  animated  arts, 
And  with  joint  force  oppression  chaining,  set 
Imperial  justice  at  the  helm." 

Pursuant  to  the  direction  of  the  charter,  the  Selectmen 
made  a  new  division  of  the  town  into  twelve  wards,  in  such 
manner  as  to  include  an  equal  number  of  inhabitants  in  each 
ward,  as  nearly  as  conveniently  might  be,  taking  the  last 
census  made  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States  as  a 
basis  for  such  computation.*  This  was  done  on  the  13th  of 
March,  and  the  various  parties  immediately  proceeded  to 
take  the  steps  preparatory  to  an  organization  of  the  wards. 
There  was  no  difficulty  in  finding  candidates  for  all  the  offi- 
ces, together  with  large  quotas  of  rallying-cornmittees  and 
vote-distributors.  When  the  second  Mondaj'of  April  arrived, 
there  was  little  doubt  respecting  the  result  of  any  of  the 
elections,except  that  of  the  Mayor.  A  ticket  for  the  board  of 
aldermen  had  been  framed  on  such  principles  as  were  calcu- 
lated to  ensure  its  success  :  the  various  parties  had  each  re- 
ceived a  pledge  that  all  should  share  (he  honours  of  that  of- 
fice. But  in  regard  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  City,  it 
was    an  honour    which  could  not  be  divided,  and  the  contest 


*  The  Act  places  it  '  in  the  power  of  the  City  council — from  time  to  time,  not  oftener  thai . 
once  in  ten  years,  to  alter  such  divisions  of  wards,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  preservers  nearly 
as  may  be,  an  equal  number  of  inhabitants  in  each  ward.' 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  369 

was  warm  between  the  friends  of  several  eminent  individuals. 
It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  board  of  Aldermen  would  be 
filled  by  Messrs.  Ephraim  Eli.ot,  Joseph  Head,  Bryant  P.  Til- 
den,  NalWl  P.  Russell,  Joseph  Lovering,  Samuel  Billings,  Jo- 
seph Jenkins,  and  Jacob  Hall.  h  was  also  ascertained  that 
there  would  be  no  choice  of  Mayor,  and  it  appeared  from  the 
official  canvass  that  the  votes  were  principally  divided  be- 
tween Messrs.  H.  G.  Otis  and  Josiah  Quincy.*  The  friends 
of  the  former  gentleman  immediately  withdrew  his  name  from 
the  list  of  candidates  for  the  mayoralty,  and  Mr.  Quincy,  in 
his  own  name,  publickly  declined  the  honour.  The  excite- 
ment on  this  occasion  was  excessive,  but  it  rapidly  subsided, 
and  in  the  course  of  four  days,  the  eyes  of  all  parties  were 
fixed  on  the  Hon.  John  Phillips,  as  the  man  whose  character 
would  command  a  universal  suffrage.  He  consented  to  the 
nomination,  and  at  the  next  election  (Tuesday,  April  16th)  re- 
ceived an  almost  unanimous  vote.f 

The  first  of  May  was  appointed  by  the  charter  as  the  day 
for  the  commencement  of  the  municipal  year.;};  Suitable  pre- 
parations were  made  in  Faneuil  Hall  for  the  ceremonies  of 
inducting  the  Mayor  and  other  officers  into  their  new  stations. 
A  platform,  raised  about  two  feet  from  the  floor,  was  thrown 
from  the  selectmen's  box  to  nearly  the  extent  of  the  hall.  On 
this  the  Selectmen  of  the  past  year,  the  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
mon Council  elect  were  accommodated  with  chairs  and  set- 
tees, the  floor  being  covered  with  carpets.  Two  of  the  galleries 
were  filled  with  ladies  and  the  Hall  was  crowded  to  excess. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Baldwin  (as  senior  in  age  of  the  clergymen  of 
the  metropolis)  addressed  the  throne  of  grace  in  prayer. 
Chief  Justice  Parker  administered  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and 
office  to  the  Mayor  elect,  who  in  turn  administered  similar 
oaths  to  the  Aldermen  and  members  of  the  Common  Council. 
The  Chairman  of  the  selectmen  (Mr.Eliphalet  Williams)  then 
rose,  and,  after  an  appropriate  address,  delivered  the  city 
charter  to  the  Mayor,  contained  in  a  superb  silver  case,  and 
the  ancient  act  incorporating  the  town  nearly  two  centuries 
past,  together  with  all  the  books  of  records,  title  deeds,  and 
documents  belonging  to  the  inhabitants.  He  concluded  with 
a  compliment  to  the  wisdom  and  judgment,  which  had  select- 
ed the  gentlemen  composing  the  present  boards,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  putting  into  operation  the  new  and  untried  system  of 
city  government. 

*  The  whole  number  of  votes  was   3708,  of  which  Mr.  Q.  had  1736— Mr.  0.  1334— Thomas 
L.  Winthrop,  361— Others  227. 

f  Mr.  Phillips  had  2500  votes:  whole  number  was  2650. 

I  An  amendment,  made  Jan.  27,  1825,  makes  the  municipal  year  to  commence  with  the  cal- 
endar year  from  and  after  Jan.  1,  1826. 
47 


370  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

The  address  of  the  Major  commenced  with  ample  testi- 
mony to  the  wisdom  of  those  institutions,  which  our  ancestors 
established  for  the  management  of  their  municipal  concerns, 
and  to  the  intelligence  and  experience  of  our  citizens,  who 
had  for  so  long  a  period  meditated  a  change  and  exerted 
their  influence  to  effect  it.  He  spoke  in  full  terms  of  the  abil- 
ity, diligence  and  integrity  of  the  boards  of  Selectmen,  justly 
denominated  the  fathers  of  the  Town,  and  acknowledged  par- 
ticular obligations  to  the  board  now  retiring  from  office.  His 
concluding  observations  give  a  fair  view  of  the  merits  of  the 
city  charter,  and  at  the  same  time  exhibit,  in  strong  light,  the 
traits  in  the  publick  and  private  character  of  their  author, 
which  endeared  him  to  men  of  all  parties. 

'  Difference  of  opinion  must  be  expected,  and  mutual  concessions  made,  in 
all  cases  where  the  interest  of  a  large  community  is  to  be  accommodated. 
The  precise  form  in  which  this  charter  is  presented  may  not  be  acceptable  to 
all,  but  its  provisions  have  met  the  approbation  of  a  large  majority,  and  it  will 
receive  the  support  of  every  good  citizen.  Those  who  encourage  hopes  that 
can  never  be  realized,  and  those  who  indulge  unreasonable  apprehensions,  be- 
cause this  instrument  is  not  framed  agreeably  to  their  wishes,  will  be  benefitted 
by  reflecting  how  much  more  our  social  happiness  depends  upon  other  causes, 
than  the  provisions  of  a  charter.  Purity  of  manners,  general  diffusion  of 
knowledge,  and  strict  attention  to  the  education  of  the  young,  and  above  all  a 
firm  practical  belief  of  that  divine  revelation,  which  has  affixed  the  penalty  of 
unceasing  anguish  to  vice,  and  promised  to  virtue  rewards  of  interminable  du- 
ration, will  counteract  the  evils  of  any  form  of  government.  While  the  love 
of  order,  benevolent  affections  and  christian  piety,  distinguish  as  they  have 
done  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  they  may  enjoy  the  highest  blessings  under  a 
charter  with  so  few  imperfections,  as  that  which  the  wisdom  of  our  Legislature 
has  sanctioned. — In  my  official  intercourse  I  shall  not  encumber  you  with  un- 
necessary forms,  or  encroach  upon  your  time  by  prolix  dissertations.  In  all 
the  communications  which  the  charter  requires  me  to  make,  conciseness  and 
brevity  will  be  carefully  studied.  T  will  detain  you  no  longer — than  to  in- 
vite you  to  unite  in  beseeching  the  Father  of  lights,  without  whose  blessing 
all  exertion  is  fruitless,  and  whose  grace  alone  can  give  efficacy  to  the  coun- 
cils of  human  wisdom,  to  enlighten  and  guide  our  deliberations,  with  the  in- 
fluence of  his  holy  spirit,  and  then  we  cannot  fail  to  promote  the  best  inter- 
ests of  our  fellow  citizens.' 

After  the  address,  the  boards  withdrew.  The  Common 
Council  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Hon.  William  Prescott 
for  President,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Clark  (late  town  clerk) 
for  Clerk  of  the  Common  Council,  and  the  two  boards  in 
Convention  elected  Samuel  F.  McCleary,  Esq.  City  Clerk.* 

The  first  year  of  the  citj7  government  passed  away  without 
producing  any  events  of  a  striking  character.     There  was  no 


*  The  Police  Court  was  organized  by  the  Governour  by  the  appointment  of  Messrs.  Ben- 
jamin Whitman,  Henry  Orne,  and  William  Simmons,  esquires,  as  Justices,  and  Thomas 
Power,  Esq.  Clerk.    Its  first  session  was  held  on  the  20th  of  June,  1822. 

The  Police  Act,  so  called,  gives  to  this  court  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  theretofore  triable  by 
Justices  of  Peace  ;  makes  all  warrants  issued  by  any  J.  of  P.  returnable  before  the  Police 
court ;  and  provides  that  no  fees  shall  be  paid  for  warrants  issued  by  a  J.  P.  unless  this  court 
6hall  decide  that  there  was  just  and  reasonable  cause  for  the  issuing  thereof,  &c.  &.C 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


371 


cause  of  special  complaint,  and  nothing  occurred  to  excite 
special  admiration.  At  its  close,  the  Mayor  together  with 
the  board  of  Aldermen  (one  member  excepted)  declined  a  re- 
election. Mr.  Quincy  was  again  solicited  to  consent  to  being 
a  candidate  for  the  mayoralty,  and  was  elected  on  the  second 
Monday  of  April,  1823.  An  entire  new  board  of  Aldermen 
was  chosen,  and  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Common 
council  were  also  new  members.* 

The  Mayor's  inaugural  addresss  paid  the  merited  compli- 
ment to  the  services  of  that  high  and  honourable  individual, 
who  had  preceded  him  in  the  office,!  and  the  wise,  prudent, 
and  faithful  citizens  who  composed  the  first  City  Council. 

'  Their  labours,'  said  he,  '  have  been  indeed,  in  a  measure,  unobtrusive,  but 
they  have  been  various,  useful,  and  well  considered.  They  have  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  the  prosperity  of  our  city,  deep  and  on  right  principles. — A  task 
was  committed  to  the  first  administration  to  perforin,  in  no  common  degree 
arduous  and  delicate. — In  the  outset  of  a  new  form  of  government,  among 
variously  affected  passions  and  interests,  and  among  indistinct  expectations, 
impossible  to  realize,  it  was  apparently  wise  to  shape  the  course  of  the  first 
administration,  rather  by  the  spirit  of  the  long  experienced  constitution  of  the 
town  than  by  that  of  the  unsettled  charter  of  the  city.  It  was  natural  for  pru- 
dent men,  first  entrusted  with  city  authorities,  to  apprehend  that  measures 
partaking  of  the  mild,  domestick  character  of  our  ancient  institutions,  might 
be  as  useful  and  would  be  likely  to  be  more  acceptable  than  those  which  should 
develop  the  entire  powers  of  the  new  government.  It  is  yet  to  be  proved 
whether,  in  these  measures,  our  predecessors  were  not  right. 

'  In  executing  the  trust,'  he  proceeds,  '  which  my  fellow  citizens  have  con- 
fided to  me,  I  shall  yield  entirely  to  the  influences  and  be  guided  exclusively 
by  the  principles  of  the  city  charter  ;  striving  to  give  prudent  efficiency  to  all 
its  powers,  endeavouring  to  perform  all  its  duties,  in  forms  and  modes,  at 
once  the  most  useful  and  most  acceptable  to  my  fellow  citizens.  If  at  any 
time,  however,  through  any  intrinsick  incompatibility,  it  is  impracticable  to 
unite  both  these  objects,  I  shall  in  such  case,  follow  duty  ;  and  leave  the  event 
to  the  decision  of  a  just,  wise  and  generous  people.  In  everyexigency.it 
will  be  my  endeavour  to  imbibe  and  to  exhibit,  in  purpose  and  act,  the  spirit  of 
the  city  charter.' 

The  new  boards  entered  with  alacrity  upon  the  duties  of 
their  various  offices.  The  course  they  pursued  was  such  as 
to  excite  a  general  expression  of  admiration.  The  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  were  re-elected  in  1824,  without  any  consider- 
able opposition ;  some  extracts  from  the  Mayor's  inaugural 
address  will  furnish  us  with  the  best  view  of  the  transactions 
of  the  first  year  of  his  administration. 

'  The  acts  of  the  administration  of  the  past  year  had  reference  to  morals  ; 
to  comfort ;  and  convenience ;   and  ornament. — With  respect  to  morals,  there 


*  The  votes,  for  Mr.  Quincy,  2504  :  for  Geo.  Blake,  Esq.  2179  :  others,  81. 

The  Aldermen  were  Messrs.  Caleb  Eddy,  Daniel  Baxter,  David  W.  Child,  Stephen  Hooper, 
Joseph  H.  Dorr,  George  Odiorne,  Enoch  Patterson  and  Ashur  Benjamin. 

t  Mr.  Phillips  lived  only  a  few  weeks  after  his  retirement  from  the  office  of  Mayor.  He 
was  seized  with  an  attack  of  angina  pectoris  while  attending  his  publick  duties  on  the  day  of 
General  Election,  May  28,  1823,  and  his  death  took  place  on  the  following  morning.  He  was 
in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 


372  HISTORY    OF  BOSTON. 

bad  existed  in  one  section  of  the  city  an  audacious  obtrusiveness  of  vice,  noto- 
rious and  lamentable  ;  setting  at  defiance  not  only  the  decencies  of  life  but  the 
authority  of  the  laws.  The  evil  was  met  in  the  face. — In  spite  of  clamour,  of 
threat,  of  insult  ; — a  determined  course  was  pursued  The  whole  section  was 
put  under  the  ban  of  authority.  All  licenses  in  it  were  denied,  a  vigorous  po- 
lice was  organized,  which,  aided  by  the  courts  of  justice  and  the  House  of  cor- 
rection, effected  its  purpose.—  These  measures  did  not  originate  in  any  theo- 
ries or  visions  of  ideal  purity,  attainable  in  the  existing  state  of  human  society, 
but  in  a  single  sense  of  duty  and  respect  for  the  character  of  the  city. — The 
expense,  by  which  this  effect  has  been  produced,  has  been  somewhat  less  than 
one  thousand  dollars  ;  an  amount  already,  perhaps,  saved  to  the  community 
in  the  diminution  of  those  prosecutions  and  of  their  costs,  which  the  continu- 
ance of  the  former  unobstructed  course  of  predominating  vice,  in  that  section 
would  have  occasioned. 

'The  next  object  of  attention  of  the  City  government  was  the  cleansing  of 
the  streets.  In  cities  as  well  as  among  individuals,  cleanliness  has  reference 
to  morals  as  well  as  to  comfort.  Sense  of  dignity  and  self-respect  are 
essentially  connected  with  purity,  physical  and  moral.  And  a  city  is  as  much 
elevated  as  an  individual  by  self-respect.  To  remove  from  our  streets  what- 
ever might  offend  the  sense  or  endanger  the  health  was  the  first  duty.  To  do 
it  as  economically  as  was  consistent  with  doing  it  well,  was  the  second. 

'Ihe  widening  of  our  streets  as  occasions  offered  was  the  next  object,  to 
which  the  attention  of  the  city  administration  was  directed  ;  and  the  one  in- 
volving the  greatest  expense.  The  circumstances  of  the  times,  and  the  enter- 
pnze  of  private  individuals  opened  opportunities,  in  this  respect,  unexampled, 

in  point  of  number  and  importance. The  administration  availed  themselves 

of  those  opportunities,  as  a  matter  of  duty,  in  the  actual  condition  of  a  city  so 
extremely  irregular  and  inconvenient  as  is  Boston,  in  the  original  plan  and 
projection  of  its  streets.  Important  improvements  have  been  made  in  Lynn, 
Ship,  Thacher,  and  Mill  Pond  Streets  ;  in  Hanover,  Elm,  Brattle,  Court  and 
Union    Streets  ;  in    Temple,  Lynde,   Summer,  and  Milk  Streets  ;  in  Federal, 

Orange,  Eliot,  and  Warren  Streets." 

Another  object  of   attention  during  the  past  year  has  been  the  drains. 

Ihe  principle  adopted  was  to  take  all  new  drains  into  the  hands  of  the  city  ; — 
to  divide  the  expense  as  equally  as  possible  among  those  estates  immedii»tely 
benefitted  ;  upon  principles  applicable  to  the  particular  nature  of  this  subject, 
and  retain  in  the  city  the  whole  property  both  as  it  respects  control  and  as- 
sessment.'-  

A  new  Mall  has  been  nearly  completed  on  Charles  Street,  and  all  the 
missing  and  dead  trees  of  the  old  Malls,  the  Common  and  Fort  Hill,  have  been 
replaced  with  a  care  and  protection,  which  almost  insure  success  to  these  orna- 
ments of  the  city.' 

'Two  objects  of  very  great  interest  to  which  the  proceedings  of  last  year 
have  reference,  remain  to  be  elucidated.  The  purchase  of  the  interest  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Rope  Walks,  west  of  the  Common  ;  and  the  projected  im- 
provements about  Faneuil  Hall  Market. In  consequence  of  ^the    exclusion 

of  the  water  by  the  Mill  Dam,  a  tract  of  land  has  been  opened  either  for  sale, 
as  an  object  of  profit,  or  for  use,  as  an  object  of  ornament,  with  which  the 
rights  of  these  proprietors  absolutely  interfered.  It  was  thought  that  no  mo- 
ment could  be  more  favourable  than  the  present  to  secure  a  relinquishment  of 
those  rights.  An  agreement  of  reference  has  been  entered  into,  with  those 
proprietors,  and  the  amount  to  be  paid  by  the  city  for  such  relinquishment, 
has  been  left  to  the  decision  of  five  of  our  most  intelligent,  independent  and 
confidential  citizens.' 

'  Touching  the  projected  improvements,  in  the  vicinity  of  Faneuil  Hall 
Market,  not  only  the  extreme  necessities  of  the  city,  in  relation  to  space  for  a 
market,  have  led  to  this  project,  but  also  the  particular  relations  of  that  vicini- 
ty have  indicated  the  wisdom  and  policy,  even  at  some  risque  and  sacrifice,  of 
bringing  together  in  one  compact,  efficient,  and  commodious  connexion,  the 
northern  and  central  sections  of  our  city,  so  as  to  facilitate  the  intercourse  of 
business  and  enterprize  between  them,  and  bring  into  market,  and  into  use, 
and  into  improvement,  parts  of  the  city,  at  present  old,  sightless,  inconvenient, 
and  in  comparison  with  that  competency,  which  must  result  from  a  judicious 
arrangement,  at  present  absolutely  useless.     Both  these  measures  of  the  City 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  373 

Govern  meat,  relative  to  the  Rope  Walks  and  to  Faneuil    Hall  Market,  will  ne- 
cessarily lead  to  what,  to  many  of  our  citizens,  is  an  object  of  great  dread,  a 

city  debt.' '  To  create  a  debt  is  a  power,  vested  by  our  charter,  in  the  City 

Council.  Now  this,  like  every  other  power,  is  to  be  characterized  by  its  use. 
1  The  destinies  of  the  City  of  Boston,  are  of  a  nature  too  plain  to  be  denied, 
or  misconceived.  The  prognosticks  of  its  future  greatness  are  written  on  the 
face  of  nature,  too  legibly,  and  too  indelibly  to  be  mistaken.  These  indications 
are  apparent  from  the  location  of  our  city,  from  its  harbour,  and  its  relative 
position  among  rival  towns  and  cities  ;  above  all,  from  the  character  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  the  singular  degree  of  enterprize,  and  intelligence,  which  are 
diffused  through  every  class  of  its  citizens.  Already  capital  and  population 
is  determined  towards  it,  from  other  places,  by  a  certain  and  irresistible  pow- 
er of  attraction.  It  remains  then,  for  the  citizens  of  Boston  to  be  true  to  their 
own  destinies  j  to  be  willing  to  meet  wise  expenditures  and  temporary  sacri- 
fices, and  thus  to  co-operate  with  nature  and  providence  in  their  apparent  ten- 
dencies to  promote  their  greatness  and  prosperity  ;  thereby  not  only  improv- 
ing the  general  condition  of  the  city,  elevating  its  character,  multiplying  its 
accommodations  and  strengthening  the  predilections,  which  exist  already  in 
its  favour;  but  also  patronizing  and  finding  employment  for  its  labourers  and 
mechanicks.  It  is  true  the  power  of  credit,  like  every  other  power,  is  subject 
to  abuse.  But  to  improve  the  general  convenience  of  the  city,  to  augment  its 
facilities  for  business,  to  add  to  the  comfort  of  its  inhabitants,  and  in  this  way 
to  augment  its  resources,  are  among  the  most  obvious  and  legitimate  uses  of 
that  power,  which  doubtless,  for  these  purposes,  was  entrusted  to  the  City 
Council.' 

The  labours  of  the  city  government  during  the  year,  which 
commenced  with  May,  1824,  were  chiefly  devoted  to  the 
completion  of  the  plan,  and  the  accomplishment  of  the  im- 
provements in  the  vicinity  of  the  market.  An  effort  was  also 
made  to  advance  a  project  for  an  improvement  of  the  flats  at 
the  bottom  of  the  Common  (which  the  city  obtained  at  the 
price  of  50,000  dollars,)  but  it  was  discouraged  by  a  vote  of 
the  inhabitants  in  town-meeting.  Publick  attention  was  also 
excited  to  a  difference  of  opinion  between  the  city  coun- 
cil and  the  board  of  overseers  of  the  poor,  relative  to  the 
powers  of  each,  in  the  government  of  the  Aims-House  and 
House  of  Industry.  A  plan  was  submitted  to  the  people  pro- 
posing that  the  choice  of  that  board  should  be  vested  in  the 
City  Council,  but  a  vote  could  not  be  obtained  for  an  altera- 
tion of  the  charter  for  that  purpose.*  A  new  organization  of 
the  Health  department  took  place,  by  which  the  duties  here- 
tofore performed  by  12  persons,  one  resident  in  each  ward, 
are   transferred    to  one  Health-officer,  and  the  regulations  of 


*  The  alterations,  that  have  been  made  in  the  charter,  are  by  Acts  of  the  legislature,  Jan. 
30,  1823,  authorizing  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  to  increase  the  number  of  engine  men  ;  Feb. 
23d,  authorizing  City  Council  to  choose  nine  directors  of  the  House  of  Industry ,&c. — June  10r 
1823,  authorizing  Council  to  elect  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  surveyors  of  high  ways. — June 
12,  1824,  an  act  regulating  the  house  of  correction  and  the  form  of  actions  under  the  by-laws, 
and  to  provide  for  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  board  of  Aldermen. — Jan.  27,  182,5,  act  to 
alter  the  time  of  commencing  the  municipal  year.  June  session,  to  abolish  the  board  of  fire- 
wards  and  organize  afire  department  :  and  by  an  order  of  the  City  Council,  March,  22,  1824, 
tbe  charter  is  so  amended  that  vacancies  in  the  office  of  Ward  clerk  may  be  filled  whenever- 
they  occur. 


374  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

quarantine  made  more  conformable  to  the  views  of  enlighten- 
ed experience  and  less  burdensome  to  the  commercial  com- 
munity. 

Previous  to  the  expiration  of  this  year,  one  of  the  alder- 
men, Mr.Hooper,  had  deceased,  and  two  others,  Messrs.  Eddy 
and  Benjamin,  had  ceased  to  officiate  :  the  remaining 
members  of  the  board  it  was  understood  would  decline  a  re- 
election. A  Union  ticket  was  however  formed,  which  bore 
the  names  of  two  of  them.  All  the  gentlemen  named  on  it 
were  elected  by  large  majorities  :  five  of  them  declined  the 
service,  and  the  vacancies  were  filled  at  a  subsequent  elec- 
tion.* Mr.  Quincy  was  re-elected  to  the  mayoralty  by  a 
vote  almost  unanimous.  More  than  half  of  the  common  coun- 
cil were  new  members.  These  boards  will  continue  in  office 
until  the  first  Monday  of  January  next. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

"  The  city  rear'd 
In  beauteous  pride  her  sky-encircled  head." 

It  was  anticipated  with  much  certainty  by  the  advocates 
for  a  city  government,  that  the  change  would  produce  a  fa- 
vourable effect  on  the  interests  of  the  city,  in  relation  to  pub- 
lick  improvements.  That  anticipation  has  not  been  disap- 
pointed. Individuals  have  been  more  active  in  putting  their 
private  estates  into  better  repair,  several  companies  have  as- 
sociated to  make  extensive  alterations  in  adjoining  lots,!  and 
the  city  has  undertaken  a  magnificent  project  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Faneuil  Hall  market. 

A  fire  which  destroyed  six  houses  and  stores  with  out  hous- 
es in  Union  street  (July  14,  1821)  made  way  for  the  improve- 
ment, which  has  been  made  by  the  erection  of  the  block  of 
brick  stores  and  dwellings  on  the  north  side  of  that  street,  and 
led   to  the  completion  of  the  range  of  brick   buildings  on  the 


*  The  gentlemen  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting,  Ap.  11,  1825,  were  Messrs.  Daniel  Baxter 
and  Joseph  H.  Dorr,  (of  the  former  board)  N.  P.  Russell,  (of  the  first  board)  Redford  Web- 
ster and  Thomas  B.  Wales,  who  declined  ;  and  Messrs.  George  Blake,  Thomas  Welsh  jr.  Hen- 
ry J.  Oliver,  who  accepted  the  office.  At  the  second  choice  Messrs.  John  D.  Dyer,  Daniel 
Carney,  Josiah  Marshall,  John  Bellozus,  John  Bryant  were  elected. 

t  In  the  summer  of  1824,  a  memorandum  was  taken  of  194  new  buildings  then  in  a  state  of 
forwardness. 


Ml 

ill        - 


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« 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


375 


south  side.  Winthrop  place  in  Summer  street,  Hayward 
place,  St.  Paul's  Row  and  Phillips'  Row  on  Common  street, 
Bowdoin  row  in  Court  street,  Crescent  court  on  Green  street, 
the  elegant  block  of  stone  stores  on  Water  street,  and  of  stone 
houses  in  Washington  street,  are  each  examples  of  enterprize, 
which  have  added  to  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  in- 
habitants. 

State  street  has  shared  in  the  general  improvements.  A 
number  of  the  old  buildings  have  been  demolished  and  ele- 
gant stone  ones  erected  in  their  stead.  The  United  States 
Branch  Bank  demands  a  particular  description*  It  is  situated 
at  the  head  of  Wilson's  lane  and  constitutes  a  chief  ornament 
of  our  Exchange.*  The  building  is  about  44  ft.  in  front  and 
96  ft.  deep.  The  portico  is  an  imitation  from  the  primitive 
form  of  the  Grecian  Temple,  with  little  variation,  excepting 
what  was  necessary  in  order  to  adapt  it  to  the  location,  and 
to  the  refractory  material  (Chelmsford  granite)  of  which  it 
was  to  be  built.  The  columns  are  of  the  Grecian  Dorick, 
4  ft.  in  diameter  and  24  ft.  high,the  shaft  being  a  single  piece. 


Ground  Plan  of  the  United  States  Bank. 


In  the  front  part  of  the  building,  on  the  first  floor,  there  is 
an  entry,  and  two  rooms  for  the  President  and  Cashier  ;  and 
in  the  second  story  over  them,  a  large  room  for  the  use  of 
the,  Directors.  The  centre  of  the  building  is  occupied  for  the 
Banking  room,  which  is  a  rotunda,  36  feet  in  diameter,  and  44 


*  The  first  outline  of  a  plan  for  this  building  was  made  for  the  situation  which  is  occupied 
by  the  Old  State  house,  and  was  intended  to  be  an  imitation  of  the  purest  example  of  the  Gre- 
cian Dorick  order  with  two  porticos  ;  but  the  scite.  which  was  finally  obtained,  required  a  dif- 
ferent arrangement.  One  of  the  porticos  was  dispensed  with,  and  Antae  at  the  angles  intro- 
duced, according  to  the  primitive  form  of  the  Grecian  Temple  The  shafts  of  the  columns 
are  frustums  of  cones,  the  sides  being  right  lines,  which,  being  the  most  severe  and  simple 
form,  seemed  the  best  adapted  to  the  occasion.  The  corner  stone  of  this  edifice  was  laid  on 
Monday,  July  5,1824.  Sir.  Solomon  Willard  was  the  designer  and  architect ;  Mr.  Gridley 
Bryant  the  master  mason,  and  Mr.  James  McAllaster,  master  carpenter. 

The  capital  stock  of  this  bank,  employed  in  Boston,  is  1,500,000  dls.  There  are  15  other 
Banks  which  employ  a  capital  of  11,050,000 dls  :  and 21  Insurance  Companies  whose  capital 
is  6,300,000  dollars- 


376  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

ft.  high  to  the  top  of  the  curb  stone.  The  rear  of  the  building 
contains  the  vaults,  which  open  into  the  Banking  room,  and  a 
number  of  other  apartments  which  are  to  serve  for  the  vari- 
ous purposes  of  the  institution. 

The  destructive  fire,  which  occurred  on  the  7th  of  April 
last,*  laid  in  ruins  almost  the  whole  of  the  square  between 
Doane-st.  Broad,  Battery  march  and  Kilby  streets.  The 
buildings  on  the  square  between  Adams-st.  Milk,  Battery  M. 
street  and  Liberty  square  had  just  been  demolished  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  on  the  spot  a  large  block  of  stores.  Both 
these  squares  are  now  covered  with  new  and  convenient 
buildings,  nearly  finished.  One  of  the  stores  on  Central 
street  was  occupied  in  August. 

The  House  of  Industry  and  House  of  Correction  at  South 
Boston,  which  are  two  similar  buildings,  of  rough  dimension 
stone,  220  ft.  long,  43  ft.  wide,  and  29  ft.  high,  have  been 
mostly  erected  by  the  city  government.  The  establishment 
of  the  H.  of  C.  was  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  town  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1821.  It  was  designed  'for  the  restraint. and  em- 
ployment of  the  idle  and  vicious  poor,  for  habitual  drunkards, 
beggars  and  those  condemned  for  petty  offences,  in  the  in- 
ferior courts  of  justice.  The  House  of  industry  is  destined 
for  the  comfort,  support,  and  relief,  and  as  far  as  they  are 
competent,  for  the  employment  of  the  virtuous  poor,  and  of 
those  alone  who  are  reduced  to  seek  this  refuge,  from  mis- 
fortune or  age  or  infancy.' 

The  County  Gaol  in  Leverett  street  and  the  House  of 
Correction  connected  with  it,  and  the  Municipal  Court  house, 
all  which  are  handsome  stone  buildings,  were  commenced 
several  years  since,  but  were  not  finished  and  occupied  till 
the  year  1822.  In  1823,  the  old  gaol  was  taken  down,  and 
its  materials  were  partly  used  in  constructing  the  Gun  house 
and  Ward  Room  on  Thacher  street.! 

The  history  of  Boston  furnishes  us  with  many  instances  of 
enterprize,    which    have    excited  admiration.     The  construc- 


*  It  commenced  in  Doane  street.  Five  buildings  were  destroyed  on  State-st.  6  in  Doane„ 
6  in  Kilby,  19  in  Central  street  (every  building)  4  on  Broad-st.  and  13  on  Liberty  square. 
Most  of  them  were  fire  proof  brick  stores,  filled  with  valuable  goods,  foreign  products  and 
American  manufactures. 

The  great  fire,  at  noon-day,  July,  7,  1824,  destroyed  fifteen  brick  dwelling  houses,  besides 
out  houses,  on  Chesnut,  Charles  and  Beacon  streets. 

t  The  Old  Court  House  on  the  south  side  of  Court-street,  is  a  handsome  building  of  brick, 
three  stories  high,  and  has  on  the  roof  an  octagon  cupola.  On  the  lower  floor  are  the  offices 
of  the  United  States  District  Marshall,  and  several  private  offices.  In  the  second  story,  the 
floor  of  which  is  supported  by  pillars  of  the  Tuscan  order,  are  held  the  Circuit  and  District 
Courts  of  the  U.  S.  for  the  Massachusetts  District,  and  the  office  of  the  District  Clerk.  In 
the  third  story  are  convenient  rooms  for  jurors,  &c.  This  building,  before  the  erection  of  the 
New  Court  House,  described  at  page  331 ,  was  used  by  all  the  courts  of  law  held  in  the  countv. 


f=3 


« 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  377 

tion  of  the  sea-wall  or  out-wharves,  in  1673,  was  a  stupendous 
undertaking,  for  that  period  ;  it  proved  however  to  be  an  ob- 
ject of  less  utility,  than  was  at  first  supposed.  The  building 
of  Long  wharf  was  a  great  and  useful  work.  These 
and  the  partial  filling  up  of  the  town  dock  were  the  principal 
efforts,  made  previous  to  the  revolution,  for  the  improvement 
of  the  natural  advantages  which  the  town  possessed.  Con- 
cerning the  immense  and  costly  works  which  have  been  ac- 
complished since  that  era,  we  have  spoken  at  large.  But  the 
project,  which  exceeds  them  all  in  boldness  of  design,  in 
promise  of  publick  benefit,  and  in  energy  of  execution,  is  that 
which  is  now  approaching  to  its  accomplishment  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Faneuil  Hall  Market. 

Such  an  undertaking,  involving  such  an  amount  of  property, 
and  affecting  so  many  private  rights,  was  too  great  to  be  pro- 
secuted without  the  express  sanction  of  the  people.  This  was 
obtained  by  a  very  full  vote,  in  city  meeting,  Jan.  16,  1324, 
when  the  following  questions  were  proposed  and  decided  in 
the  affirmative.  1.  Is  it  expedient  that  Faneuil  Hall  market 
should  be  extended  towards  the  harbour,  between  Ann-street 
and  the  street  leading  to  Bray's  wharf,  in  such  direction  as 
the  City  Council,  upon  a  view  of  all  the  circumstances  of  that 
vicinity,  shall  deem  most  for  the  publick  interest  ;  and 
that  they  be  requested  to  cause  the  same  to  be  effected  ac- 
cordingly ? — 2.  Is  it  expedient  for  the  City  Council  to  apply 
to  the  legislature  for  such  an  extension  of  the  powers  of  the 
surveyors  of  highways  as  the  circumstances  of  the  contem- 
plated project,  above  mentioned,  may  make  necessary,  under 
such  limitations  and  restrictions  as  the  constitution  requires, 
and  as  respect  for  private  rights  may  dictate  V 

The  legislature  granted  the  proposed  power,  but  there  has 
been  little  occasion  to  exercise  it  :  most,  if  not  all  the  estates 
required,  have  been  obtained  with  the  consent  of  the  parties 
interested.  The  old  buildings  were  taken  down  in  August ; 
the  lots  on  the  north  side  of  the  dock  were  sold  at  auction, 
Sept.  29th,  1824.  The  highest  price  obtained  was  $20,83 
per  square  foot :  the  lowest  $7.  There  were  36  lots,  cover- 
ing 30,037!  feet?  and  ^le  amount  of  sales  was  $303,495  44  cts. 
The  lots  on  the  south  side  of  the  intended  market-house  were 
sold,  March  31,  1825.  The  highest  price  $21  per  sq.  foot, 
lowest  $10.  There  were  22  lots  covering  33,865  ft.  and  the 
amount  of  sales  was  $403,848  13  cts.  The  stores  on  the 
north  side  are  already  finished,  as  to  the  exterior,  and  the 
one  which  stands  on  the  corner  of  the  Roebuck  passage,where 


Tbe  Police  Court  holds  its   sessions   here  daily  for  the  trial  of  criminal  cases,  and  twice  a 
week,  at  least,  for  that  of  '  civil  suits  and  actions."1 

49 


378 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 


the  triangular  warehouse  formerly  stood,  was  occupied  by  a 
tenant,  Sept.  12,  1825.  The  stores  on  the  south  side,  and 
the  Market-house  also,  are  rapidly  progressing.* 

The  New  Market-house  stands  between  these  two  ranges 
of  stores,  at  the  distance  of  102  ft.  from  those  on  the  south 
side,  and  65  ft.  from  the  north.  The  centre  part  of  the  build- 
ing is  74  ft.  6  in.  by  55  ft.  having  a  hall  in  the  second  story. 
The  wings  are  231  ft.  long  by  50  wide,  and  two  stories  high. 
There  is  a  cellar  under  the  whole.  The  wings  have  each  a 
portico  of  4  columns,  3  ft.  7  in.  diameter  and  23  ft.  high  ;  the 
shafts  are  ofgraniteina  single  piece.  The  first  story  has 
arched  windows,  and  those  in  the  second  story  are  square. 
The  construction  of  the  whole  is  of  hammered  granite  of  a 
uniform  colour. 

The  corner  stone  of  this  building  was  laid  with  much  cere- 
mony. The  plate  deposited  beneath  it  bears  the  names  of 
the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common  Council,  Building  Com- 
mittee and  Principal  Architect,  and  Engraver,  besides  the 
following  inscription  : 

jFaneuti  ^all  JUarfeet, 

Established  by  the  City  of  Boston.  This  stone  was  laid  April 
27,  Anno  Domini  Mdcccxxv.  In  the  forty-ninth  year  of  Amer- 
ican Independence  and  in  the  third  of  the  Incorporation  of  the 
city.  John  Quincy  Adams,  President  of  the  United  States. 
Marcus  Morton,  Lt.  Gov.  and  Commander  in  chief  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts. 

Memoranda.  The  population  of  the  city  estimated  at  50,000 : 
that  of  the  United  States  11,000,000.1 


*  The  height  and  form  of  the  stores  were  regulated  by  the  conditions  of  sale.  The  pur- 
chaser was  required  to  erect,  within  a  limited  time,  a  brick  store  with  hammered  stone  front, 
(granite  piers)  in  strict  conformity  with  a  plan  drawn  by  Mr.  Alex.  Parris.  This  plan  re- 
quired that  the  stores  should  be  four  stories  high,  with  a  slated  roof,  and  a  cellar  water- 
tight. The  height  of  the  first  and  second  story  is  8  ft.  6  inches  :  the  3d  story  is  8  ft.  9  in.  and 
the  4th  is  6  ft.  6  inches,  in  the  clear.  The  windows  in  the  2d  story  are  arched  :  the  others 
are  square.  The  blocks  measure  about  530  ft.  in  length,  from  Merchants-row  to  the  street  at 
the  east  end  of  the  Market-house. 

t  The  population  of  Boston,  according  to  the  census  of  1 820,  stood  thus  : 


Persons. 

Under 
10  years. 

10  to  16. 

White 
males 
from  16 
to  18. 

CD 
<N 

O 

W 

o 

CD 
CN 

"5 

U 

> 

o 
H 

10590       5349 
of  both  sexes,  und 

877 
:r  26  yrs. 

7832 
689 

12991 
727 

4037 
285 

41,676 
1,701 

Add  for  the  Islands,  675 ;  Persons  not  taxed,  61  ;  Omitted,  31  767 

Total,    Males,  21,687— Females,  22,365    *-     92     =  44,144 

By  the  Census  of  1810,  the  population  was         ...  33,250 

„            „        1800 24,937 

„            „        J790           --.-..-  I8,03f. 


HISTORY    OV    BOSTON.  379 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 

•'The  Hero  hath  come  in  the  eve  of  his  day, 

To  the  land  where  he  planted  the  tree  of  his  glory." 

We  have  omitted  to  notice  the  display  of  pomp  and  cere- 
mony, in  which  the  people  of  Boston  exhibited  their  devotion 
to  President  Washington,  when  he  visited  the  town  in  1789, 
(Oct.  24,)  and  the  similar  display  which  took  place  on  the 
visit  of  President  Monroe,  July  2,  1817.  Both  these  events 
called  forth  a  burst  of  patriotick  feeling,  of  which  it  is  pleasant 
to  cherish  the  recollection.  But  the  splendour  of  that  display 
has  been  surpassed,  and  the  height  of  that  feeling  has  been,  if 
possible,  more  than  equalled  by  the  reception  of  General  La 
Fayette,  and  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the 
monument  on  Bunker  Hill. 

Lafayette  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  16th  of  August, 
1824,  where  he  was  welcomed  in  a  manner  becoming  his  own 
character  and  that  of  the  people  whom  he  had  come  to  visit  : 
and  the  people  of  Boston  gladly  heard  of  his  determination  to 
proceed  immediately  hither,  in  season  to  attend  the  exercises 
of  commencement,  at  Cambridge.  On  the  evening  of  Mon- 
day, August  24th,  he  reached  the  residence  of  Gov.  Eustis,  in 
Roxbury,  and  the  next  morning  entered  the  city. 

At  an  early  hour,  a  cavalcade  of  800  citizens  waited  to  es- 
cort him  to  the  town  line,  where  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  and 
Common  Council,  with  a  committee  of  arrangements,  were  in 
readiness  to  receive  him.  A  military  escort  consisting  of  a 
corps  of  Light  Dragoons  and  a  battalion  of  Light  Infantry 
were  also  stationed  there.  On  the  arrival  of  General  Lafay- 
ette at  the  line,  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  in  the  name  of  the  City 
Government  and  of  the  citizens  of  Boston,  bade  him  welcome, 
in  an  appropriate  address,  to  which  the  General  replied,  as 
follows  :  , 

To  the  Mayor  and  People  of  Boston : 

1  The  emotions  oflove  and  gratitude,  which  I  have  been  accustomed  to  feel 
on  my  entering-  this  city,  have  ever  mingled    with  a  sense  of  religious    reve- 


The  number  of  polls  rated  in  1824,  was  10,897  :  in  1810,  it  was  7764  :  in  1793  it  was  3631  : 
in  1784,  it  was  1143:  in  1741—2972  ;  in  1738—3395;  in  1687—1457.     See  pp.  218,  254. 

The  town  of  Chelsea  contains  642  inhabitants ;  Charlestown,  6591  ;  Medford,  1474;  Mai- 
den, 1719  ;  Watertown,  1518;  Cambridge,  3295;  Brighton,  702;  Brookline,  900;  Roxbury, 
4135;  Dorchester,  3684:  these  towns  constitute  the  environs  of  Boston.  Their  population 
24,660  added  to  that  of  Boston,  as  above,  makes  a  total  of  68,804, 


380  HiSlOliY    OF  BOSTON. 

rence  for  the  Cradle  of  American,  and,  let  us  hope  it  will  be  hereafter  said,  of 
universal  liberty. 

'  What  must  be,  sir,  my  feelings  at  the  blessed  moment  when  after  so  long 
an  abseuce,  I  feel  myself  again  surrounded  by  the  good  citizens  of  Boston, 
wheie  I  am  so  affectionately,  so  honourably  welcomed,  not  only  by  old  friends, 
but  by  several  successive  generations  ;  where  I  can  witness  the  prosperity, 
the  immense  improvement,  that  have  been  the  just  reward  of  a  noble  struggle, 
virtuous  morals,  and  truly  republican  institutions. 

'  I  beg  of  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  and  all  of  you, 
beloved  citizens  of  Boston,  to  accept  the  respectful  and  warm  thanks  of  a 
heart  which  has  for  nearly  half  a  century  been  particularly  devoted  to  vour 
Illustrious  City.'' 

The  Mayor  then  entered  the  barouche  of  the  General, 
which  was  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  and  the  procession 
began  to  move  towards  the  town  about  11  oxlock.  It  passed 
through  Washington,  Milk,  Broad,  State,  Court  and  Common 
streets  to  Boylston  street,  and  entered  the  Common  near  the 
south  end  of  the  Mall.  From  this  point  towards  Park  street, 
the  children  of  the  publick  schools  of  both  sexes  were  extend- 
ed in  two  lines,  neatly  clad  and  under  the  direction  of  their 
instructers.  Between  these  lines  the  procession  of  carriages 
passed  to  Park  street  mall,  where  the  military  part  of  the  es-- 
cort  was  drawn  up  and  the  General  passed  them  in  review, 
as  he  went  towards  the  State  House.  Here  he  was  received 
and  again  welcomed,  in  the  name  of  the  State,  by  His  Ex- 
cellency Gov.  Eustis.  He  was  thence  conducted  to  the 
residence  provided  for  him,  at  the  corner  of  Beacon  and 
Park  streets, 

'  The  appearance  of  the  entire  of  this  truly  grand  proces- 
sion was  august  and  imposing.  As  it  passed,  Lafayette  !  La- 
fayette !  sprang  from  the  voice  of  multitudes  that  rolled  on, 
and  on,  like  wave  after  wave  of  the  ocean.  Lafayette  beat  in 
every  heart  ;  Lafayette  glowed  on  every  cheek  ;  Lafayette 
glistened  in  every  swimming  eye  ;  every  tongue  vibrated 
Lafayette.  The  whole  city  and  country  appeared  to  have 
arrayed  themselves  in  all  their  glory,  and  beauty,  and^ 
strength,  at  once  to  witness  and  adorn  the  majesty  of  the 
spectacle.' 

During  the  General's  stay  the  popular  excitement  was  con- 
stant and  increasing ;  every  thing  gave  way  to  the  desire  of 
seeing  Lafayette,  and  every  means  was  taken  to  demonstrate 
the  joy  which  his  arrival  had  produced,  and  to  manifest  the 
respect  which  every  individual  cherished  towards  him.  He 
left  Boston,  with  the  intention,  if  possible,  to  prolong  his  stay 
in  America,  until  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  succeeding  June, 
in  order  to  be  present  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  monument  ;  and  he  was  here  on  that  day  :  'it  is 
not  necessary  to  say,  indeed  it  cannot  be  said,  how  much  his 
presence  added  to  the  interest  and  pleasure  of  the  occasion.' 

The  day  was  temperate  and  fair,  and  all  the  arrangements 
made  to  honour  it  were  executed  with  punctuality   and   good 


HISTORY    OF    BOSTON.  381 

order.  A  procession  was  formed,  about  half  past  10  A.  M. 
near  the  State  house  under  the  direction  of  Brig.  Gen.  Theo- 
dore Lyman  Jr.  The  military  escort  was  composed  of  16 
companies,  and  a  corps  of  cavalry,  all  volunteers  and  in  full 
uniform.  Next  to  them  followed  the  Survivors  of  the  Battle, 
about  40  in  number,  and  after  them  about  200  other  Revolu- 
tionary officers  and  soldiers  each  wearing  an  appropriate 
badge  :  then  the  subscribers  to  the  Monument,  in  columns 
six  deep,  all  wearing  the  badge  of  the  B.  H.  M.  Association. 
The  Masonick  fraternity  succeeded.  This  section  of  the  pro- 
cession was  very  splendid,  and  numbered  at  least  2000  mem- 
bers, all  with  their  jewels  and  regalia.  The  President  and 
officers  of  the  Association,  the  chaplains  and  committees  fol- 
lowed. General  Lafayette  in  a  coach  and  four  came  next, 
accompanied  by  Gen.  Lallemand,  and  followed  by  a  carriage 
in  which  were  the  General's  son  and  suite.  The  Governour 
and  State  officers,  distinguished  persons  from  the  different 
states,  officers  of  the  army,  navy  and  militia,  in  uniform,  and  a 
large  body  of  private  citizens  closed  the  procession. 

In  this  order  the  whole  moved  through  Park,  Common, 
School,  Washington,  Union,  Hanover  and  Prince  stre<  ts  to 
Charles  River  Bridge,  and  thence  through  the  Main, 
Green,  and  High  streets,  in  Charlestown,  to  the  Monumental 
square.  The  front  of  the  procession  had  nearly  reached  the 
bridge  when  the  rear  of  it  left  the  Common.  Arrived  at  the 
spot  intended  for  the  monument,  (which  is  a  little  to  the  east 
of  the  site  of  the  monument  to  Warren,)  the  procession  formed 
in  squares  around  it ;  and  the  stone,  being  squared,  levelled 
and  plumbed  by  the  Grand  Master,  the  General,  and  the  Hon. 
Daniel  Webster,  (president  of  the  association,)  was  declared 
in  due  form  to  be  true  and  proper,  and  the  ceremonies  closed 
with  the  customary  religious  services.  Cheers  from  the  mul- 
titude of  witnesses,  and  salutes  from  Bunker's  and  Copp's  hills 
announced  the  moment  of  the  fact  to  the  thousands  who  could 
not  be  gratified  with  the  sight  of  it. 

4  The  procession  then  moved  to  an  amphitheatrical  area, 
where  preparations  had  been  made,  on  a  most  ample  scale, 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  auditors  of  the  Address  of  the 
President  of  the  Association.  They  included  a  large  portion 
of  the  north-eastern  declivity  of  the  battle  hill.  On  each 
side  of  the  bower,  seats  with  awnings  had  been  prepared,  and 
were  filled  by  over  one  thousand  ladies,  from  all  parts  of  the 
Union.  In  the  centre  of  the  base,  a  rural  arch  and  bower, 
surmounted  by  the  American  Eagle,  was  formed  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Association  and  some  of  the  guests,  in  front 
of  which,  after  the  venerable  Mr.  Thaxter  had  addressed  the 
Throne  of  Grace,  the  Orator,  sub  ccelo,  pronounced  an  Address, 
which   nojie  but  its  author  is  capable  of  doing  justice  to  in  a 


382  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

summary,  and  which  will  be  read  with  a  pleasure  equalled 
only  by  that  which  electrified  the  vast  assemblage  who  listen- 
ed to  it  for  nearly  one  hour  and  a  quarter.  It  is  enough  for 
us  to  say,  that  it  was  in  every  particular  worthy  of  the  celeb- 
rity of  the  orator,  and  that  his  address  to  the  silver-headed 
worthies  of  the  Revolution,  and  to  the  distinguished  Guest  of 
the  Nation,  filled  every  heart  with  transport.' 

After  the  close  of  the  Address  the  company  repaired  to 
Bunker's  Hill,  where  a  sumptuous  entertainment  was  provided, 
at  which  more  than  four  thousand  persons  partook.  The 
guests  separated  at  a  seasonable  hour,  and  the  festivities  of 
the  occasion  terminated  with  a  private  party  at  the  residence 
of  a  distinguished  citizen. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

Sicut  patribus  sit  Deus  nobis. — City  Seal. 
And  as  thou  wast  our  fathers'  God,  be  ours. 

Several  religious  societies  have  been  organized  in  Boston, 
since  the  acceptance  of  the  city  charter.  After  the 
Essex  street  church,  first  so  called,  removed  to  Boylston  hall, 
(p.  346)  a  minority  of  that  body  continued  to  maintain  wor- 
ship in  the  Essex  st.  house.  On  the  22d  of  March,  1822,  they 
requested  '  a  regular  dismission  from  the  majority'  for  the 
purpose  of  being  formed  into  a  regular  church.  This  they 
received  on  the  5th  of  April,  and  on  the  10th  of  June  follow- 
ing, ten  of  their  number,  with  two  members  of  another  church, 
were  embodied  according  to  the  custom  of  Congregational 
churches.  Having  received  an  accession  of  members  from 
the  Old  South  and  Park  st.  churches  and  one  from  Braintree, 
this  body  adopted  the  name  by  which  it  is  now  known,  of 
Union  Church,  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1822,  and  on  the  26th 
of  March,  1823,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Green  was  installed  as  their 
pastor. 

The  Corner  stone  of  the  Third  Universalist  meeting  house 
was  laid  October,  7,  1822.  A  silver  plate  was  as  usual  de- 
posited beneath  it,  on  which  the  following  was  the  principal 
inscription  : 

"  He  that  built  and  sustains  all  things  is  Jehovah — This  House  devoted  to  the  worship  of 
Almighty  God,  and  to  the  promulgation  of  bis  great  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,  the  chief 
corner  stone,  was  commenced  and  this  stone  laid,  October  7th,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1822, 
of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the  4(?th,  and  of  the  Institution  of  the  City  of  Boston 
the  First." 


HIST0KY    OF    BOSTON.  383 

The  house  was  dedicated  in  the  forenoon  of  the  7th  of 
May,  1823,  and  in  the  afternoon,  the  Rev.  Paul  Dean,  having 
recently  dissolved  his  connection  with  the  First  Universalist 
church,  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  new  society.  This 
edifice  is  situated  at  the  corner  of  Bulfinch  street  and  Bul- 
finch  place.  Its  dimensions  are  74  by  70  feet,  and  35  high 
above  the  base.  It  is  a  brick  building  and  has  two  towers, 
one  for  the  accommodation  of  the  bell  and  the  other  for 
symmetry. 

In  February,  1823,  the  Rev.  Prince  Hawes  commenced 
preaching  to  a  small  congregation  at  South  Boston.  In  the 
spring  of  that  year,  one  of  the  members  at  his  own  expense 
erected  a  hall  for  their  accommodation.  On  the  10th  of 
December  a  church  was  organized  by  the  name  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Congregational  Church,  consisting  of  13  members. 
Mr.  Hawes  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church  April  28,  1824. 
The  hall  in  which  this  society  assembled  became  so  crowded 
that  it  was  desirable  they  should  be  provided  with  a  more 
convenient  place  for  publick  worship.  Benevolent  individu- 
als subscribed  for  the  purpose,  and  they  have  built  a  house 
of  brick,  70  ft.  by  50,  every  way  commodious,  but  without 
galleries,  except  at  one  of  the  ends.  The  house  was  dedicat- 
ed on  the  9th  of  March,  1825. 

The  church  that  worships  in  the  house  in  Chambers  st.  was 
the  sixteenth  Congregational  church  formed  in  Boston,  and  is 
the  thirteenth  in  order  of  those  now  existing,  but  the  proprie- 
tors are  incorporated  under  the  title  of  '  The  Twelfth  Congre- 
gational Society  in  the  City  of  Boston.'  The  following 
statement  of  the  leading  facts  connected  with  its  earty  history 
is  gathered  from  a  memoir  appended  to  Rev.  Dr.  Lowell's 
sermon  at  the  ordination  of  the  first  pastor.  In  the  year 
1823,  several  gentlemen  conferred  together  on  the  apparent 
want  of  a  new  house  of  worship  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  increasing  population  of  the  western  section  of  the  city. 
It  was  ascertained  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lowell's,  the  only  Con- 
gregational society  in  that  part  of  the  city,  comprised  at  that 
time  about  350  families,  and  that  many  in  the  neighbourhood 
could  not  obtain  suitable  accommodations  within  a  convenient 
distance.  In  view  of  these  circumstances,  a  plan  was  origi- 
nated for  the  erection  of  a  new  church,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
few  weeks,  230  shares  were  subscribed  by  ninety  persons. 
In  January,  1824,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  new  house  was  laid  on  the  10th  of  May. 
The  dedication  took  place  October  13th  :  Rev.  Jno.  G. 
Palfrey  preached  on  the  occasion,  from  Matt.  xvi.  3.  On  the 
19th  of  December,  Mr.  Samuel  Barrett,  from  the  Theological 
school  at  Cambridge,  was  invited  by  the  society  to  become 
their  pastor.       January  28,  1825,  a  church  was  constituted 


384  HISTORY    OF    BOSTON. 

from  the  members  of  the  society,  and  on  the  9th  of  February 
Mr.  Barrett  was  ordained. 

The  Methodist  society  erected  a  house  of  worship  at  South 
Boston  in  the  course  of  ttie  year  1824.  It  was  dedicated 
January  22,  1825.  By  the  regulations  of  this  denomination 
their  clergymen  are  stationed  in  Boston,  only  for  two  succes- 
sive years  :  this  arrangement  has  given  to  the  societies  here 
the  labours  of  about  35  different  clergymen  in  the  course  of 
thirty-five  years. 

The  Trinitarian  church  in  Hanover  street  was  brought 
fotward  by  members  of  the  Old  South,  Park  street  and  Union 
churches.  The  corner  stone  of  their  edifice  was  laid  June 
20,  1825,  in  the  presence  of  numerous  spectators.  A  church 
was  organized  July  18th,  consisting  of  thirty-three  mem- 
bers, part  from  each  of  the  abovenamed  churches.  They 
were  formally  recognized  by  the  name  of  Hanover  Church 
at  a  publick  meeting  in  Park  street  on  the  succeeding  day.  The 
walls  of  this  building  are  of  rough  granite,  70  feet  on  the 
street  by  71  in  depth,  and  about  40  ft.  high  :  tower  28  ft. 
square  and  about  68  high.  The  height  of  walls  will  be  ac- 
counted for,  when  it  is  remarked  that  a  basement  story,  10 
feet  in  the  clear,  will  occupy  the  whole  extent  of  the  ground  ; 
the  front  part  being  designed  for  the  Missionary  rooms  of  the 
American  Board,  and  the  rest  for  a  spacious  vestry.  The 
meeting  house  in  Sea  street  is  built  on  a  similar  plan, the  low- 
er story  being  designed  for  tenants. 

A  new  Unitarian  meeting  house  is  also  in  a  state  of  forward- 
ness. It  is  to  be  built  of  stone,  and  is  situated  in  Purchase 
street.  The  cornerstone  was  laid,  September  7th,  1825,  with 
appropriate  services,  in  the  presence  of  about  300  persons. 
An  account  of  the  origin  of  this  undertaking  was  read  by 
Rev.  Alexander  Young.  A  fervent  prayer  was  next  offered 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Lowell. — The  inscription  on  the  silver  plate 
to  be  deposited  under  the  Stone,  was  read  by  Mr.  Young. — 
The  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  John  Cotton,  Esq. 
then  deposited  the  box  containing  the  plate,  and  other  ar- 
ticles ;  and  the  stone  being  duly  laid,  Rev.  Henry  Ware  Jr. 
delivered  an  impressive  address  commencing  with  these  words, 
"  Except  the  Lord  build  the  House,  they  labour  in  vain  that 
build  it." 

There  are  also  three  other  meetings  regularly  maintained 
at  the  present  time  ;  one  in  Charter  street  by  Trinitarian  con- 
gregationalists  ;  one  in  Purchase  street  by  Baptists  •  and  the 
other  by  Methodists  at  the  corner  of  Castle  and  Washington 
streets  ;  so  that  the  present  number  of  worshipping  assemblies 
in  the  city  is  thirty-five. 


TABLE 


SHOWING 


THE  DATE  OF  THE  DEDICATION  OF  CHURCHES, 

AND  OF  THE 

SETTLEMENT  OF  MINISTERS. 


Meeting-houses. 

1.  New  Brick.  Brick.  Steeple. 

2.  Christ  Church.  Brick.  Steeple. 

3.  Old  South.  Brick.  Steeple. 

4.  Trinity.  Wood.  Plain. 

5.  1.  Universal.  Wood.  Plain. 

6.  King's  Chapel.  Stone.  Tower. 


7.  1.  Baptist. 

8.  Brattle-street. 

9.  1.  Methodist. 

10.  l.Catholick. 

11.  New  North. 

12.  2.  Methodist. 

13.  Lynde-street. 

14.  African. 

15.  3.  Baptist. 

16.  Chauncy-place. 

17.  Federal-street. 


Wood. 
Brick. 
Wood. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 
Brick. 


18.  Park-street.         Brick. 

19.  2.  Baptist.  Brick. 

20.  Hollis-street.       Brick. 

21.  New  South.         Stone. 

22.  2.  Universal.        Brick. 

23.  St.  Matthew's;    Brick. 

24.  2.  Roman  C.        Brick. 

25.  Essex-street.       Brick. 

26.  St.  Paul's.  Stone. 

27.  Butolpb-street.   Brick. 

28.  3.  Universal.        Brick. 

29.  Chatnbers-st.      Brick. 

30.  S.  Boston  Meth.  Brick. 

31.  Evangel.  Brick. 

32.  Sea-street.  Brick. 

33.  Hanover-street.  Stone. 

34.  Purchase-street.  Stone- 


Plain. 
Tower. 
Plain. 
Cupola. 
Cupola. 
Plain. 
Cupola. 
Plain. 
Cupola. 
Cupola. 
Steeple. 

Steeple. 

Tower. 

Steeple. 

Steeple. 

Plain. 

Cupola. 

Gothick. 

Steeple. 

Plain. 

Plain. 

2  Cupolas. 

Plain. 

Plain. 

Cupola. 

Plain. 

Tower. 

Cupola. 


Dedication. 

May  10, 1721. 
Dec.  29,  1723. 
Apr.  26,  1730. 
Aug.  15,1735. 
1742. 
Aug.  21,  1754. 

Dec.  22, 1771. 
July  25, 1773. 
May  15,  1796. 
Sep.  29,  1803. 
May  2,  1804. 
Nov.  19,  1306. 
Nov.  27,  1806. 
Dec.  4,  1806. 
Aug.  5,  1807. 
July  21,1808. 
Nov.  23, 1809. 

Jan.  10,  1810. 
Jan.  1,  1811. 
Jan.  31,  1811. 
Dec.  29,  1814. 
Oct.  16,  1817. 
June  24,  1818. 
1819. 
Dec.  15,  1819. 
June  30,  1820. 
July  5,  1821. 
May  7,  1823. 
Oct.  13,  1824. 
Jan.  22,  1825. 
Mar.  9,  1825. 
Unfinished. 

do. 

do. 


Ministers. 

Henry  Ware  jun. 
Asa  Eaton, 
B.  B.  Wisner, 
J.  S.  J.  Gardiner, 
S.  Streeter, 


Settlement. 

Jan.  1,  1817 
Oct.  23,  1803 
Feb.  21, 1821 
Apr.  12,  1792 
May  13,  1824 


C  James  Freeman,    Oct.  20,  1782 
\  F.W.P.Greenwood,Aug.29, 1824 


F.  Wayland  jun. 
J.  G.  Palfrey, 
Isaac  Bonney, 
William  Taylor, 
F.  Parkman, 
Tinio.  Merritt, 
Charles  Lowell, 
Thomas  Paul, 
Daniel  Sharp, 


Aug.  22,  1821 

June  17,1818 

1824 

1821 

Dec.  8,  1813 

J  825 

Jan.  1,   1806 

Dec.  4,   1806 

April  29,1812 


N.  L.  Frotbingham,   Mar.  15,1815 

C  W.  E.  Channing,    June  1,  1803 
I  E.  S.  Gannett,         June  30, 1 824 


S.  E.  Dwight, 
Vacant, 
John  Pierpont, 
Alex.  Young  jun. 
Hosea  Ballon, 
J.  L.  Blake, 
Patrick  Byrne 
S.  Green, 
Vacant, 

William  Jenks, 
Paul  Dean, 
Samuel  Barrett, 
Solomon  Sias, 
Prince  Hawes, 


Sept.  3,  1817 

Apr.  14,1819 
Jan.  19,  1825 
Dec.  25,  1817 
June,      1824 

Mar.  27,  1823 


May  7,  1823 

Feb.  9,  1825 

1824 

April  28,1824 


Rev.  Mr.  Dean  previous  to  his  installation  over  the  third  Universalist  church  had  been  set- 
tled 10  years  over  the  First:  Rev.Mr.  Greenwood  officiated  as  pastor  of  the  New  South  from 
1818  to  1820 :  Rev.  Mr.  Merritt  was  located  in  Boston  in  the  year  1818  :  Methodist  clergy- 
men officiate  interchangeably:  Rev.  Mr.  Sabine,  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  wa»  settled,  Jan. 
27, 1819  :  the  2d  Roman  Catholick  is  under  the  charge  of  the  same  officers  as  the  first, 

50 


386  HISTORY    OT   BOSTON. 


CHAPTER  LXV1. 

"Lo!  vales  that  teem  with  fruits,  romantick  hills, 
(Oh  !  and  these  hills  uphold  a  freeborn  race) 
Whereon  to  gaze  the  eye  with  joyaunce  fills." 

We  include  in  our  map  of  Boston  and  its  environs,  some 
part  of  each  of  the  towns  of  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  Brookline, 
Brighton,  Cambridge,  Watertown,  Charlestown,  and  Chelsea. 

Dorchester  is  a  very  pleasant  town  about  4\  miles  south 
from  Boston,  measuring  from  the  centre  of  each  town.  At 
present  it  contains  about  8000  acres,  including  Thompson's 
Island  and  Moon  Island.  The  soil  is  generally  rich  and  high- 
ly cultivated.  The  roads  are  numerous  and  crooked,  but 
mostly  level  and  kept  in  good  repair.  Many  fine  country 
seats  and  substantial  farm-houses  are  thickly  arranged  on 
their  sides.  The  population  amounts  to  3684.  They  have  a 
town  house,  3  congregational  meeting  houses,  and  one  for 
methodists.  Savin  Hill  in  this  town  is  a  place  of  considera- 
ble resort,  and  the  peninsula  of  Squantum  is  famous  for  its 
yearly  Feast  of  Shells. 

Roxbury,  adjoining  Dorchester  on  the  west,  has  a  popula- 
tion of  4 135.  The  portion  of  the  town  next  to  Boston  is 
thickly  settled  and  forms  a  handsome  village.  Here  are  three 
meeting  houses,  within  a  few  rods  of  each  other.  There  are 
two  other  churches  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  The  west 
part  of  the  town,  Jamaica  plains,  is  a  delightful  spot,  orna- 
mented with  elegant  country  seats  and  well  cultivated  gardens. 
The  pond  which  supplies  the  Boston  aqueduct  lies  in  that 
quarter.* 

Brookline,  next  to  Roxbury  on  the  west,  was  formerly 
considered  part  of  Boston.  This  town  contains  about  4400 
acres  of  land.  Several  gentlemen  of  Boston  have  their  coun- 
try seats  here.  The  number  of  inhabitants  by  the  last  cen- 
sus was  900.  This  town  lies  on  the  west  of  the  bay,  and  its 
hills  and  wood  lands  form  a  pleasing  portion  of  the  scenery 
in  the  view  from  Boston  common.  In  a  direct  line,  Brook- 
line is  four  miles  from  the  city. 


*  The  proprietors  of  the  Boston  Aqueduct  were  incorporated  to  bring  water  in  subterra- 
neous pipes  from  Jamaica  Pond  in  Roxbury,  to  the  town  of  Boston,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, passed  February,  27,  179S.  Said  Pond  is  about  four  miles  from  Boston,  and  there 
are  four  main  logs  from  the  pond,  to  and  through  most  of  the  principal  streets.  The  four 
main  logs,  and  all  the  branches  connected  with  them,  amount  to  about  forty  miles  in  length. 
There  are  generally  about  eight  hundred  families  supplied  with  water  from  the  Aqueduct. 


HISTORY    OF   HOSTON.  387 

Brighton  was  formerly  part  of  the  town  of  Cambridge  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Little  Cambridge.  It  lies  between 
C.  and  Brookline.  A  cattle  fair  was  commenced  here  during 
the  revolutionary  war  and  has  been  increasing  in  importance 
ever  since.  Most  of  the  cattle  for  the  supply  of  Boston  mar- 
ket are  brought  in  droves  to  this  place;  often  from  2  to  8000 
a  week  :  every  Monday  is  the  fair  day,  when  the  dealers  in 
provisions  resort  thither  to  make  their  purchases.  Once  a 
year,  in  the  month  of  October,  the  Mass.  Agricultural  Socie- 
ty encourage  a  Cattle  Show  and  exhibition  of  Manufactures, 
by  the  offer  and  award  of  premiums,  for  the  best  animals, 
products  or  articles  of  specified  descriptions,  produced  in  any 
part  of  this  state.     Brighton  numbers  702  inhabitants. 

Watertown.  The  village  of  Watertown  is  a  flourishing 
neighbourhood  :  it  is  the  seat  of  several  extensive  manufacto- 
ries. The  United  States  have  an  arsenal  established  in  this 
town.  Fresh  Pond,  a  place  of  genteel  resort,  five  miles  from 
Boston,  lies  partly  within  this  town  and  partly  in  Cambridge. 

Cambridge  is  celebrated  as  the  seat  of  Harvard  College. 
This  institution  was  founded  in  the  year  1636,*  and  received 
its  name  from  the  Rev.  John  Harvard  of  Charlestown,  who 
made  the  first  great  donation  to  its  funds.  Since  that  the  ben- 
efactors of  this  institution  have  been  numerous  and  liberal. 
The  income  of  the  College  for  the  year  1824,  arising  from 
various  permanent  sources  (i.  e.  exclusive  of  receipts  from 
students  and  graduates)  amounted  to  $22244,  74  cts.  The 
expenditures  during  the  same  year  amounted  to  $44841,  36  cts. 
principally  in  payment  of  salaries.  The  College  buildings 
are  situated  on  a  delightful  plain,  three  miles  from  Boston.! 
They  are,  University  Hall,  which  is  built  of  granite,  140  by 
50  ft.  on  the  ground,  and  42  ft.  high  :  Harvard,  Massachu- 
setts, Hollis,  Stoughton  and  Holworthy  halls,  and  Holden 
chapel  are  all  of  brick  :  these  buildings  all  stand  within  the 
enclosure  of  the  College  fence.  (See  plate,  p.  81.)  Besides 
these  there  are  a  new  stone  building  lately  erected  and  3  Col- 
lege-houses occupied  by  students,  the  President's    house,  and 


*  Colony  Records,  Oct.  25,  1636,  contain  the  first  notice  of  the  College,  towards  which 
the  Court  makes  a  grant  of  400/.  to  be  paid  when  the  work  is  finished— the  Court  to  regu- 
late the  place  and  building.— Nov.  2,  1637,  it  is  ordered  that  the  College  be  at  Newtown.— 
May,  1638,  the  name  of  Newtown  was  altered  and  it  was  called  Cambridge. — First  Com- 
mencement, 1642. 

t  The  Massachusetts  Medical  College  is  situated  in  Mason  street,  near  the  Boston  Common 
and  Mall.  The  building  is  brick,  88  feet  in  length,  and  43  in  its  greatest  breadth.  Its  figure 
is  oblong  with  a  pediment  in  front,  and  an  octagonal  centre  rising  above  the  roof,  and  also 
forming  a  three  sided  projection  in  the  rear  of  the  building.  This  is  surmounted  by  a  dome, 
with  a  skylight  and  balustrade,  giving  an  appearance  of  elegance  to  the  neatness  and  fit 
proportions  of  the  building. 


388  HISTORY    OF   BOSTON. 

those  of  several  of  the  professors,  and  the  Medical  College  in 
Boston,  all  which  belong  to  the  University.  The  number 
of  alumni,  down  to  the  last  Wednesday  of  August,  1825,  has 
been  4828.      The  present  number  of  undergraduates  is  234. 

Cambridge  contains  3295  inhabitants  :  it  has  a  court  house, 
jail,  state  arsenal,  and  5  houses  of  publick  worship.  There 
are  three  principal  villages,  Lechmere's  point,  Cambridge- 
port,  and  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Colleges. 

Chaalestown  is  a  town  of  singular  shape  extending  in  a 
northwesterly  direction  from  Boston  harbour,  about  nine  miles 
in  length  and  not  averaging  a  breadth  of  one  mile,  and  in 
some  parts  it  is  not  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width.  The  com- 
pact or  thickly  settled  part  of  the  town  is  situated  on  a  penin- 
sula next  to  Boston,  which  is  about  1^  mile  in  length,  and  |  of 
a  mile  in  breadth,  and  is  laid  out  in  regular  streets. 

Charlestown  contains  a  population  of  6591.  It  has  5 
houses  of  publick  worship,  a  spacious  almshouse,  and  a  hand- 
some market  house.  It  is  a  port  of  entry  in  conjunction  with 
Boston  :  Bunker  Hill  Bank  is  recently  established  here. 
Besides  Charlestown  and  Prison  point  bridges,  which  con- 
nect this  town  with  Boston,  there  is  Chelsea  Bridge  on  the 
Salem  turnpike,  and  Maiden  Bridge,  both  over  the  Mystick 
river.  Breed's  hill,  and  Bunker  hill  lie  within  this  peninsula  : 
the  former  is  62  feet  in  height,  the  latter  110  feet.  The 
U.  S.  Navy-yard  consists  of  about  60  acres  of  land,  on 
which  are  built  a  large  brick  warehouse,  several  arsenals, 
magazines  for  various  kinds  of  stores,  a  large  brick  mansion 
house  for  the  superintending  officer,  and  a  marine  hospital. 
The  State  Prison  is  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  and  is  built 
of  granite,  200  feet  by  44,  of  5  stories.  The  prison  yard  is 
500  feet  by  400,  enclosed  by  a  wall  15  feet  high.  The  Mas- 
sachusetts Insane  Hospital  is  delightfully  situated  upon  Pleas- 
ant hill,  on  the  west  side  of  the  town.  It  has  an  elegant  house 
for  the  superintendent,  with  2  buildings,  one  on  each  side, 
handsomely  built  of  brick,  3  stories  high. 

Chelsea  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Boston  harbour 
and  Mystick  river,  and  on  the  west  of  Lynn  bay:  much  of 
the  land  is  low  marsh  or  fen.  The  surface  of  the  body  of 
the  town  is  broken  into  small  eminences,  the  highest  of  which 
is  Powder-Horn  Hill,  220  feet  above  the  sea.  The  settle- 
ments are  thinly  scattered  over  the  town  :  the  number  of 
inhabitants  is  642.  Chelsea  anciently  was  considered  a  part 
of  Boston,  and  has  always  been  connected  with  it  as  part  of 
the  county  of  Suffolk.  By  the  law  which  established  the 
City  Police  Court,  the  people  of  Chelsea  are  exempted  from 
county  taxes  and  deprived  of  their  voice  in  county  concerns. 
They  have  one  meeting  house  occupied  by  a  congregational 
church. 


Ige 


!  *3 


6> 


E=3 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I.     Page  49. 

INDIAN   QUITCLAIM. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
I,  Charles  Josias,  alias  Josias  Wampatuck,  son  and  heir  of  Josias  Wampa- 
tuck  Sachem  of  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  Massachusetts  in  New-England, 
and  grandson  of  Chickatabut,  the  former  Sachem,  send  greeting.  Forasbiuch 
as  I  am  informed,  and  well  assured  from  several  antient  Indians,  as  well  those 
of  my  council  as  others,  that  upon  the  fiist  coming  of  the  English  to  sit  down 
and  settle  in  these  parts  of  New  England,  my  above  named  grandfather, 
Chickatabut,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  his  council,  for  encouragement  thereof 
moving,  did  give,  grant,  sell,  alienate,  and  confirm  unto  the  English  planters 
and  settlers,  respectively  and  to  their  several  and  respective  heirs  and  assigns 
forever  all  that  neck,  tract  or  parcel  of  land,  lying  and  being  within  the  Mas- 
sachusetts colony,  in  order  to  their  settling  and  building  a  town  there,  now 
known  by  the  name  of  Boston,  as  it  is  environed  and  compassed  by  the  sea,  or 
salt  water,  on  the  northerly,  easterly,  and  westerly  sides,  and  by  the  line  of 
the  town  of Roxbury  on  the  southerly  side,  with  all  the  rivers,  harbours,  bays, 
creeks,  coves,  flats  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  as  also  several 
other  outlands  belonging  to  the  said  towu  on  the  northerly  and  easterly  sides 
of  Charles  river,  and  the  Island  called  Deer  Island  lying  about  two  leagues 
easterly  from  the  said  town  of  Boston  between  Pudding  point  Gut  and  the 
Broad  Sound,  so  called,  said  island  containing  one  hundred  and  sixty  or  200 
acres  of  land,  more  or  less,  with  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereunto 
belonging,  which  said  neck  and  land  have  since  been  distributed  and  granted 
out  among  themselves  into  particular  allotments  and  other  conveniences,  and 
given,  alienated,  and  transferred  to  and  from  one  another,  having  been  peacea- 
bly and  quietly  possessed,  used,  occupied  and  enjoyed,  for  the  space  of  about 
fifty  and  five  years  last  past,  by  the  said  first  grantees,  their  heirs,  successors 
and  assigns,  and  now  stand  quietly  and  peaceably  possessed  thereof  at  this  day. 
Wherefore,  I  Charles  Josias;  alias  Josias  Wampatuck.  Sachem,  and  William 
Hahaton,  Robert  Momentauge,  and  Ahawton,  senior,  my  counsellors,  (by  and 
with  the  allowance  and  advice  of  William  Stougbton  and  Joseph  Dudh-y,  Es- 
quires, my  prochain  amys  and  guardians)  as  well  for  the  reasons  and  con- 
sideration abovementioned  as  for  and  in  consideration  of  a  valuable  sum  of 
money  to  me  and  them  in  hand  paid  by  Elisha  Cook,  Elisha  Hutchinson, 
Esquires,  Messrs.  Samuel  Shrimpton,  John  Joylifle,  Simon  Lynde,  John  Saffin, 
Edward  Willis,  Daniel  Turell,  senior,  Henry  Allen,  John  Fayerweather,  Tim- 
othy Prout,  senior,  and  Theophilus  Frarey,  of  Boston  aforesaid,  for  and  in  be- 


390  APPENDIX. 

half  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of  the  proprietated  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Boston  abovesaid,  the  receipt  of  which  said  sum  of  money  as  full  and  lawful 
consideration  we  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  received,  and  thereof,  and 
of  every  part  and  parcel  thereof,  do  fully  acquit  and  discharge  the  said  Elisha 
Cooke,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Shrimpton,  John  Joyliffe,  Simon  Lynde, 
John  Saffin,  Edward  Willis,  Daniel  Turell,  senior,  Henry  Allen,  John  Fayer- 
weather,  Timo.  Prout,  senior,  and  Theophilus  Frarye,  and  every  of  them,  their 
and  every  of  their  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns  forever,  by 
these  presents  have  and  hereby  do  for  the  further  confirmation  and  ratification 
of  the  said  gift,  grant,  bargain  or  sale  of  the  said  grand  Sachem,  Chickatabut, 
fully  freely  and  willingly  approve,  ratify,  establish,  enfeoff  and  confirm  the 
same  and  do  also  fully  and  absolutely  remise,  release  and  forever  quitclaim 
unto  the  said  Elisha  Cooke,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Shrimpton,  John  Joy- 
liffe, Simon  Lynde,  John  Saffin,  Edward  Willis,  Daniel  Turell,  senior,  Henry 
Allen,  John  Fayerweather,  Timo.  Prout,  senior,  and  Theophilus  Frarye,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  respectively  forever,  so  far  as  their  own  several  and  respec- 
tive rights  and  interests  are  or  may  be:  And  further  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  rest 
of  the  proprietated  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Boston  and  precincts  thereof, 
severally  and  their  several  and  respective  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  according 
to  the  several  interests,  rights,  titles  and  property,  which  each  person  respec- 
tively hath  right  unto  and  standeth  now  seized  and  possessed  of  all  the  afore- 
said neck  and  tract  of  land  now  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  town  of 
Boston,  and  all  other  lands  whatsoever  with  the  said  township  and  precincts 
thereof  easterly  and  southerly  of  and  from  Charles  River,  with  all  and  every 
the  housing,  buildings  and  improvements  thereupon  and  on  every  part  and 
parcel  thereof,  and  the  Island  aforesaid  called  Deer  Island  and  the  buildings 
thereon,  with  all  harbours,  streams,  coves,  flats,  waters,  rivers,  immunities, 
rights,  benefits,  advantages,  liberties,  privileges,  hereditaments  and  appurte- 
nances whatsoever  to  all  and  every  the  aforementioned  premises  belonging,  or 
in  any  manner  or  wise  appertaining,  or  therewith  heretofore  or  now  used,  oc- 
cupied or  enjoyed,  also  all  the  estate,  right,  title,  interest,  property,  claim  and 
demand  of  me  the  said  Charles  Josias,  alias  Warapatuck,  and  of  all  and  every 
my  beforenamed  counsellors,  of,  in  and  to  the  same  and  every  part,  parcel  or 
member  thereof  : 

To  have  and  to  hold  all  and  singular  the  abovementioned  land,  premises  and 
appurtenances  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  unto  them  the  said  Elisha 
Cooke,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  Samuel  Shrimpton,  John  Joyliffe,  Simon  Lynde, 
John  Saffin,  Edward  Willis,  Daniel  Turell,  senior,  Henry  Allen,  John  Fayer- 
weather, Timo.  Prout,  senior,  and  Theophilus  Frarye,  their  heirs  and  assigns 
respectively  forever,  for  and  in  behalf  of  themselves  so  far  as  their  own  several 
and  respective  rights  are  or  may  be  therein.  And  further  for  and  in  behalf  of 
the  several  and  respective  proprietated  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  and  pre- 
cincts thereof,  their  several  and  respective  heirs  and  assigns  forever  according 
to  their  interest,  title  and  propriety,  which  each  person  hath  or  may  have  just 
right  unto  and  standeth  now  seized  and  possessed  of,  and  to  their  only  proper 
use  and  benefit  and  behoof  forever,  freely,  peaceably  and  quietly,  without  any 
manner  of  reclaim,  challenge  or  contradiction  of  me,  the  said  Charles  Josias, 
alias  Wampatuck,  and  my  above  named  counsellors  or  either  or  any  of  us, 
or  either  or  any  of  our  heirs,  executors,  administrators  or  assigns,  and  without 
any  accompt,  reckoning,  answer,  sum  or  sums  of  money  in  time  to  come  to  be 
made,  yielded,  paid  or  done,  so  that  neither   I,  the  said  Charles  Josias,  alias 


APPENDIX.  391 

Wampatuck,my  counsellors,  onr  or  either  of  our  heirs,  executors  nor  any  others 
by,  from  or  under  me,  us  or  them  or  any  of  them,  shall  or  will  by  any  ways  or 
means  hereafter  have,  ask,  or  claim,  challenge  or  demand  any  estate,  right, 
title  or  interest,  of,  in  or  to  the  premises  or  any  part  or  parcel  thereof,  but  are 
and  shall  be  utterly  excluded  and  for  ever  debarred  from  the  same  by  virtue 
of  these  presents;  and  I  the  said  Charles  Josias  alias  Wampatuck  and  counsel- 
lors aforesaid  for  us  and  every  of  us,  our  and  every  of  our  heirs,  executors,  ad- 
ministrators and  successors  respectively  do  hereby  covenant,  promise,  grant 
and  oblige  unto  the  aforenamed  grantees,  their  heirs,  executors,  administra- 
tors and  assigns  by  these  presents  to  warrant,  maintain  and  defend  the  afore- 
mentioned premises  and  all  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  unto  them  the 
said  grantees,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  as  aforesaid,  for  and  in  behalf  of 
themselves  and  others  the  proprietated  inhabitants  according  to  their  respective 
rights  and  interest,  against  all  and  every  person  and  persons  whomsoever  law- 
fully claiming  or  demanding  the  same  or  any  part  or  parcel  thereof,  and  at 
any  time  or  times  hereafter,  upon  demand,  to  give  and  pass  more  full  and  am- 
ple release,  confirmation  and  assurance  of  all  and  every  the  said  premises  un- 
to the  said  grantees,  their  heirs  and  assigns  to  the  uses  aforesaid,  and  to  do 
and  perform  any  other  act  or  acts,  device  or  devices  in  the  law  necessary  or 
requisite  thereunto,  as  in  law  or  equity  can  or  may  be  devised,  advised  or  re- 
quired. In  witness  whereof,  1  said  Charles  Josias  alias  Wampatuck,  William 
Hahaton,  Robert  Momentaugt  and  Ahawton,  senior  my  counsellors, 

have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  the  19th  day  of  March  A.  D.  1684 — 5 
Annoque  Ri.  Ris.  Caroli  Secundi  Angliae,  &c.  xxxvii. 

Charles  Josias  £^  (l.  s.) 

Ahawton  Senr.  /£±  (l.  s.) 

Willm.  Hahaton  (l.  s.) 

Robert  8  Momentauge.    (l.  s.) 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  us, 

William  Williams,  E.  Lyde. 

Charles  Josias  and  Win.  Ahawton  jr.  in  behalf  of  himself  and  his  father 
Ahawton,  Indians,  acknowledged  the  abovesaid  writing  to  be  their  voluntary 
act  and  deed,  March  19th,  16S4 — 5.  Coram  James  Russell,  Assistant. 

We  underwritten  prochain  amys  and  guardians  to  Charles  Josias  sachem  of 
the  Massachusetts,do  consent  and  approve  of  the  abovesaid  confirmation  of  title 
and  release  of  claim.  William  Stoughton,  Joseph  Dudley. 

David,  Son  and  heir  of  Sagamore  George  and  in  his  right  having  some  claim 
to  Deer  Island,  doth  hereby  for  just  consideration  relinquish  his  right  to  the 
town  of  Boston  of  all  his  right  and  claim  thereto,  and  consents  to  the  abovesaid 
deed  of  sale,  as  witness  his  hand  and  seal  ^.     In  presence  of  us 

William  Williams,  Benja.  Dowse. 

Feb.  1.  1708.  Received  and  accordingly  entered  and  examined  per 

Addington  Davenport,   Register. 

No.  II.    Page  78. 
From  Welde's  Short  Story  of  the  Aniinomians,  fyc. — Ed.  1692,  p.  23. 

'We  whose  names  are  under  written  (have  diligently  observed  this  honoura- 
ble Court's  proceedings  against  our  dear  and  reverend  brother  in  C'irist,  Mr. 
Wheel,  now  under  censure  of  the  Court  for  the  truth  of  Christ)  we  do  humbly 


392  APPENDIX. 

beseech  this  honourable  Court  to  accept  this  remonstrance  and  petition  of 
ours,  in  all  due  submission  tendered  to  your  worships.  For  first,  whereas  our 
beloved  brother  Mr.  W.  is  censured  for  contempt,  by  the  greater  part  of  this 
honoured  Court,  we  desire  your  worships  to  consider  the  sincere  intention  of 
our  brother  to  promote  your  end  in  the  day  of  fast  :  for  whereas  we  do  per- 
ceive your  principal  intention  the  day  of  fast  looked  chiefly  at  the  public 
peace  of  the  churches,  our  reverend  brother  did  to  his  best  strength  and  as  the 
Lord  assisted  him  labour  to  promote  your  end,  and  therefore  endeavoured  to 
draw  us  nearer  unto  Christ  the  head  of  our  union,  that  so  we  might  be  estab- 
lished in  peace,  which  we  conceive  to  be  the  true  way,  sanctified  of  God,  to 
obtain  your  end,  and  therefore  deserves  no  such  censure,  as  we  conceive. 

Secondly,  Whereas  our  dear  brother  is  censured  of  sedition,  we  beseech 
your  worships  to  consider  that  either  the  person  condemned  must  be  culpable 
of  some  seditious  fact,  or  his  doctrine  must  be  seditious,  or  must  breed  sedition 
in  the  hearts  of  his  hearers,  or  else  we  know  not  upon  what  grounds  he  could 
be  censured.  Now  to  the  first,  we  have  not  heard  any  that  have  witnessed 
against  our  brother  for  any  seditious  fact.  Secondly,  neither  was  the  doctrine 
itself,  being  no  other  but  the  very  expressions  of  the  Holy  Ghost  himself,  and 
therefore  cannot  justly  be  branded  with  sedition.  Thirdly,  if  you  look  at  the 
effects  of  his  doctrine  upon  the  hearers,  it  hath  not  stirred  up  sedition  in  us, 
not  so  much  as  by  accident  :  we  have  not  drawn  the  sword,  as  sometimes  Peter 
did  rashly, neither  have  we  rescued  our  innocent  brother, as  sometimes  the  Israel- 
ites did  Jonathan,  and  yet  they  did  not  seditiously.  The  covenant  of  free 
grace,  held  forth  by  our  brother,  hath  taught  us  rather  to  become  humble 
suppliants  to  your  Worships,  and  if  we  should  not  prevail,  we  would  rather 
with  patience  give  our  cheeks  to  the  smiters.  Since  therefore  the  teacher,  the 
doctrine  and  the  hearers  be  most  free  from  sedition  (as  we  conceive)  we  hum- 
bly beseech  you  in  the  name  of  the  L.  J.  C.  your  Judge  and  ours,  and  for  the 
honour  of  this  Court  and  the  proceedings  thereof,  that  you  will  be  pleased 
either  to  make  it  appear  to  us  and  all  the  world,  to  whom  the  knowledge 
of  all  these  things  will  come,  wherein  the  sedition  lies,  or  else  acquit  our  broth- 
er of  such  a  censure. 

Farther  we  beseech  you  remember  the  old  method  of  Satan,  the  ancient 
enemy  of  free  grace,  in  all  ages  of  the  churches,  who  hath  raised  up  such 
calumnies  against  the  faithful  prophets  of  God;  Elija  was  called  thetroubler  of 
Israel,  1  Kings,  xviii.  17,18.  Amos  was  charged  for  conspiracy,  Amos.  vii.  10. 
Paul  was  counted  a  pestilent  fellow,  or  mover  of  sedition,  and  a  ringleader  of 
a  sect,  Acts,  xxiv.  5.  and  Christ  himself  as  well  as  Paul  was  charged  to  be  a 
teacher  of  new  doctrine,  Mark,  i.  27.  Sets,  xvii,  19.  Now  we  beseech  you  con- 
sider, whether  that  old  Serpent  work  not  after  his  old  method,  even  in  our  days. 

Farther  we  beseech  you  consider  the  danger  of  meddling  against  the  proph- 
ets of  God.  Ps.  cv.  14,  15.  for  what  ye  do  unto  them,  the  L.  J.  takes  as  done 
unto  himself :  if  you  hurt  any  of  his  members,  the  head  is  very  sensible  of  it, 
for  so  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  He  that  touchelh  you,  toucheth  the  apple  of  mine 
eye,  Zech.  ii.  8.  And  better  a  mill  stone  were  hanged  about  our  necks,  and 
that  we  were  cast  into  the  sea,  than  that  we  should  offend  any  of  these  little 
ones  which  believe  on  him,  Malt,  xviii.  6. 

And  lastly  we  beseech  you  consider,  how  you  should  stand  in  relation  to  us, 
as  nursing  fathers,  which  give  us  encouragement  to  promote  our  humble  re- 
quests to  you,  or  else  we  would  say  with  the  prophet,  Isa.  xxii.  4.   Look  from 


APPENDIX.  393 

me  that  I  may  weep  bitterly,  Labour  not  to  comfort  me,  fyc.  or  as  Jer,  ix.  2. 
Oh  that  I  had  in  the  wilderness  a  lodging  place  of  a  way-faring  man. 

And  thus  have  we  made  known  our  griefs  and  desires  to  your  worships,  and 
leave  them  upon  record  with  the  Lord  and  with  you,  knowing'  that  if  we  should 
receive  repulse  from  you,  with  the  Lord  we  shall  find  grace. 

Signed  byWm.Aspinwall,  Thos. Marshall,  Pdchard  Gridley  and  many  others.' 


No.  IIL     Page  93. 

Immediately  following  the  ivords  "  accept  thereof"  in  the  agreement  respecting 
the  incorporation  of  Brainlree,  the  Boston  records,  Jan.  27,  1640,  read  thus  : 

1  Provided  that  this  order  shall  not  extend  to  any  more  or  other  land  than 
such  as  shall  make  payment  of  the  said  rates  so  agreed  upon  of  4s  and  3s  an 
acre,  and  upon  the  former  consideration  there  is  granted  to  the  mount  all  the 
rocky  ground  lying  between  the  fresh  brooke  and  Mr.  Coddington's  brook  ad- 
joining to  Mr.  Haulghes  farme  and  from  the  west  corner  of  that  farm  to  the 
southermost  corner  of  Mr.  Hutcliinsons  farm,  to  be  reserved  and  used  in  com- 
mon forever  by  the  inhabitants  and  landholders  there  together  with  one  other 
parcel  of  rocky  ground  near  to  the  Knighte  neck  which  was  left  out  by  the 
third  company  of  Lotte.  excepting  all  such  ground  lying  among  or  neere  the 
sd  rocky  ground   formerly  granted  out  in  Lotte  to  pticular  persons. 

Also  there  is  granted  to  Mr.  William  Thompson,  pastor  of  the  church  at  the 
Mount,  120  acre  of  land  there  free  from  the  forsd.  rate  of  3s  per  acre. 

Also  there  is  granted  to  Mr.  Henry  Flint  80  acre  of  land  there  in  like  sort 
free  from  the  sd  rate  of  3s.  per  acre. 

Also  there  is  granted  to  John  Lugg  a  great  lot  for  9  head  at  the  mount  upon 
the  usual  terms.' 


No.  IV.     Page  212* 

Original  Covenant  of  the  New  JYorth  Church. 

We,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  apprehending  ourselves  called  of  God 
into  the  chh.  state  of  the  gospel,  do,  first  of  all,  confess  ourselves  unworthy  to 
be  so  highly  favoured  of  the  Lord,  and  admire  that  free  and  rich  grace  of  his, 
which  triumphs  over  so  great  umvorthiness  ;  and  then,  with  a  humble  reliance 
upon  the  aids  of  grace  therein  promised  to  them,  that  in  a  sense  of  their  own 
inability  to  do  any  good  thing,  do  humbly  wait  upon  him  -for  all,  we  do  thank- 
fully lay  hold  on  his  covenant,  and  would  do  the  things  that  please  him.  We 
declare  our  serious  belief  of  the  chr.  religion,  contained  in  the  S.  S.  and  as  ex- 
hibited in  the  confession  of  faith  received  in  our  chhs.  ;  heartily  resolving  to 
conform  our  lives  to  the  rules  of  that  holy  religion,  so  long  as  we  live  in  this 
world.  We  give  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jehovah,  who  is  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost  ;  and  avouch  him  to  be  our  God,  our  Father,  our  Saviour  and 
Leader,  and  receive  him  as  our  portion.     We  give  up  ourselves  unto  the  bles- 


*  P.  204.  The  Manifesto  of  the  Brattle-street  Society  is  printed  at  large,  in  Rev.  Mr.  Pal- 
frey's Historical  Discourse,  published  recently. 

51 


394  APPENDIX. 

sed  Jesus,  who  is  the  Lord  Jehovah,  and  adhere  to  him  as  the  head  of  his  peo- 
ple in  the  cov.  of  God,  and  rely  on  him  as  our  Prophet,  our  Priest  and  our 
King-,  to  bring  us  into  eternal  blessedness.  We  acknowledge  our  everlasting 
and  indispensable  obligations  to  glorify  God  in  all  the  duties  of  a  godly,  sober, 
righteous  life  ;  and  very  particularly  in  the  duties  of  a  church  state,  and  a  body 
of  people  associated  for  an  obedience  to  him,  and  enjoyment  of  him,  in  all  the 
ordinances  of  the  gospel.  And  we  therefore  depend  upon  his  gracious  assis- 
tance for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  thus  incumbent  upon  us.  We  de- 
sire and  intend,  and  with  dependence  upon  promised  and  powerful  grace,  we 
engage  to  walk  together  as  a  church  of  our  L.  J.  C.  in  the  faith  and  order  of 
the  gospel,  so  far  as  we  shall  have  the  same  revealed  unto  us,  and  will  consci- 
entiously attend  the  worship  of  God,  the  sacraments  of  the  N.  T.  and  the  disci- 
pline of  his  kingdom  and  all  his  holy  instructions,  in  communion  with  one 
another  ; — and  that  we  will  lovingly  watch  over  one  another,  carefully  avoid 
stumbling  blocks  and  contentions,  as  becomes  a  people  whom  the  Lord  has 
bound  up  together  in  the  bundle  of  life.  At  the  same  time,  we  also  present 
our  offspring  with  us  unto  the  Lord,  purposing  with  his  help  to  do  our  part  in 
the  methods  of  a  religious  education,  that  they  may  be  the  Lord's.  And  all 
this  we  do,  flying  to  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant  for  the  pardon  of 
our  many  errours,  and  praying  that  the  glorious  Lord,  who  is  the  great  Shep- 
herd, would  prepare  and  strengthen  us  for  every  good  work,  to  do  his  will, 
working  in  us  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  to  whom  be  glory  forever, 
Araeu. 


FINIS. 


IISDEX. 


Academy,  american,  355 

Adams,  saml.  254, 282. 323 

. John,  250,  266,  284,297,  337 

,  J.  Q  337,  37S 

Agamenticus  named  B.   15 

Albany  settled,  14 

Aldermen  chosen,  369,  371,  374 

Alligator  show,  89 

Alms  house,  136,  324 

Amendments  to  city  charter,  373 

Amusements  introduced,  333.   susprn- 

Ammunition  smuggled,  299   [ded,  275 

Andros,  gov.  184.    prisoner,  189,     or- 
der respecting  north  school,  349 

Appeal  to  arms,  266,  272 

Apprentices' library,  359 

Aqueduct,  386 

Arbella  Johnson,  lady,  26.     dies,  36 

Arms  delivered  to  gen.  gage,  305 

Arsenal,  u.s.  387 

Artillery  ancient  and  hon.    84,  105 

Assemblies  worshipping,  number,  384 

Assistance,  writs  of,  244,  258 

Association  of  mechanics,  301.     mass. 

Asylums,  360  [ch.359 

Atheneum,  357 

Ball,  mrs.  gambier's,     286 

Bancroft,  bp.     13 

Banks,    375.     U.  S.  ib.     stock,  ib. 

Barnard  j.  rev.   212 

Batterv,    north,  126.     south,  155 

Beacon  hill,     65,111,314 

Bell,  nine  o'clock,  91."  eleven,    155 

Bentlev,  wm,  rev.     143 

Bernard,  gov.     245,  268 

Blackstone,  wm.     31.  50 

Boston  (E.)     13*,  34 

B.  harbour  explored,  18.     named,   32 

Botolph,  saint,  34 

Bowdoin  family,  200.  jas.  283,313,315 

Boylston,dr.  zabdiel,     218 

hall,  332.    school,  353 

Bradstreet,  simon,    22,  145,  189 

Braintree  incorporated,  93,   393 

Bridewell,     324 

Bridges,     316,  320 

Brighton,     387 

Broad  stieet,     327 

Brookline,    46,  205,  386 

Brown,  enoch?     285* 

Bunker  hill,  305.     battle,  307.     mon- 
ument, 381.     bank,  388 

Burial  ground,  first,  37,    common,  61 

Burial,  episcopal,    191 

Bye-laws  first  printed,     204 

Cabot,  John,     14 

Cambridge,     46,  81,  387 

Canal,  roxbury,   319 

Carver,  gov.     17 
Castle,     128 


Census,     378 

Central  whf.     327 

Charles  I.    21,  144.     Ch.  II.   145,  175 

Charter,  city,  366 

Charter,  colony  granted,  22.  vacated, 
172.    new,  197.     subverted,  296 

Charlestown  settled,  23.  burnt,  308. 
described,    388.     chh.    formed,     42 

Charles  river,  113 

Chelsea  set  off,  228.     tax,  365,  388  < 

Chicatabut,  35,  63,    389 

Children  baptised,    63 

Chronological  items,  39,  62 

Church,  dr.  benja.  286,  298 

Church,  first,  30,  91,  211— old  north, 
129,131,310,338—1  baptist,  149, 
310— old  south,  152,  337— chapel, 
190,  338— quaker,  197,  245,  385— 
french,  200— brattle  st.  202,310— 
new  north,211,393-new  south,213 — 
new  brick,  214 — christ  chh.  219 — 
moorhead's,  221,339— hollis  st.  223, 
310— trinity,  224— lynde  st.  226, 
310— sam'l.  mather's,  229,  339—2 
baptist,  230— croswell's,  231 — san- 
deman,  256 — 1  universalist,  338 — 
federal  st.  339—1  roman,  340— 
1  methodist,  340— christian,  341— 
african,  342—2  methodist,  342—3 
baptist,  343— park  st.  343—2  uni- 
versalist, 344 — st.  matthew's,  345 — 
new  Jerusalem,  345 — presbyterian, 
346—2  roman,346— st.  paul's,346— 
mission  house,  347 — 3  universal,  382 
— union,  382 — s.  boston  evangelical, 
383— chambers  st.  383— s.  boston 
methodist,  384— hanover  st.  384 — 
purchase  st.  384, — others,  ib. 

Circular  line,  160 

City,  project  for  (1651)  137,  (1708) 
207.  (1784)  363.  (1792,  1804,  1815) 
3fel.   (1822)  365 

Clap,  roger,25,  38,  188 

Clerk,  city,  370 

of  writs,  168 

Cobler,  simple,  141,  337 

Coddington,  wm.  81 

Collector  of  customs,    169 

College,  81,275,387 

Colonnade  row,  329 

Columbus  discovers  A.   14 

Commencement  first  at  college,  387, 
city,  354 

Commissioners  of  B.  138,  king's,  146 

Committee  of  convention,  273,  inspec- 
tion, 278,  correspondence,  288,  safe- 
ty, 299,  school,  351 

Common,  61,  373 

Conant,  roger,  20 

Concord  fight,  303 


396 


INDEX. 


Congress,  stamp  act,  258,  continental, 

297,  provincial,  298 
Constitution,    plvinouth,    16,     massa. 

312,  U.S.A.  313 
Cooke,  elisha,    196 
Copp's  hill,  105 
Correction,  house  of,    376 
Cotton,  john,  rev.  33,  53,  136 

role-on-god,  157,    mary,  256 

Counties  formed,  98 

Court  of  high  commission,    12 

of  assistants,  32 

first  general,    34 

— —  police,  370 

house,  old,  376,    new,  331 

Coves,  110. 

Cranes,   124 

Cradle  of  Libertv,  235,380 

Creeks,  107,  108",  109, 11 1,121, 123,124 

Cromwell,  oliver,  144 

Customs,  board  of,  269 

Custom  house,   329 

Davenport,  john, rev.  77,  152,  158 

De  berdt,  dennys,  274 

Dedications,  385 

Dispensary,  medical,  360 

Donation,  franklin's,   354,  359 

Dorchester,  settled,  25,    heights,  311, 

town,  386 
Dudley,  thos.  dep.  gov.   24     [son,  189 

jos.  col.  ptesident,  172,  in  pri- 

Dunster,    henry,  117 
Diinton's  account  of  B.  174 
Elizabeth  Q.  11,  death,   13     [mon,  324 
Elm  tree  neighbourhood,  258,  on  com- 
Endicot,  at  salem,  23,   at  B    148 
Engine,  fire,  first,   and  company,    165 
Environs,   44,  3S6 
Estates  made  fees  simple,  59 
Eulogy  on  faneuil,  235 
Evacuation  of  B.  311 
Exchange  coffee  house,   329 
Faneuil,   peter,   builds   hall,   233,   his 

picture,  234,  dies,  235,  his  arms,  ib* 
Faneuil  hall,  size  of,  234,    burnt,    en- 
larged, 246 
Faneuil  hall  market,  377 
Faneuil,  andrew,  209,235 
Fencing  school,    178 
Ferry  established,  40 
Fires,  39,40,81,  139,  164, 165,194,204 

210,  241,  242,   243,   257,  276,    297. 

305,  321,322, 325,326, 329,374,376 
Fire  department,  140,  165,  firewards, 
Fire  soc.  mass. charitable,  358  [211 
Fort,  indian,  19,    on  fort  hill,  45,  63, 

110,  187 
Fort  hill,  110,328 
Fortification  gates,  210 
Fox  hill,    88,113 

Franklin, benja.  206,219, 253,  322,  359 
French  protestants,  200,  235 
French  visit  B.  before  english,  15 
Fuller,  dr.  saml.  30 
Funerals,   170,192,279,282 
Gage,  gen.  273,  296 


Gagcr,  dr.  38 

George  II    and  III    246 

Gibbs'  house,   158,  184 

Gorges,  sir  f.   20  ' 

Gosnold  discovers  c.  cod,  14 

Granary    136,324 

Graves,  thos  at  charlestown,  23 

Gridley,  jet     250 

Hancock,  iohn,266,  270,  gov.  313 

Harvard  college,   Hi,  387 

Hay  ward,  john,  168,  postmaster,    210 

Health  department,  373 

Height  of  Copp's  hill,  105,    fort,    110, 

beacon, 1 12,  bunker  and  breed's,388, 

powder  horn,  388 
Henry,  patrick,  258 
Hibbins,  mrs   executed,  140 
Higginson,  rev.  f.  23 
Historical  society,  355 
Howard  benevolent,    360 
Hospital,  marine,   38S,  gen. 361 
Humane  soc  358  [257 

Humphrey,  John,  d   gov,  22,  24,    danl. 
Hunt,  cant,  kidnaps  indians,  15 
Hutchinson,  aim,    69 

thos.    It.   gov.    251,    gov. 


286,  letters,  289 

Importers,  278,  284 

Impressment,  238,  271 

Inauguration  of  mavor,  369 

Independence,  250,  270,  289,  312 

Indian  king's  wigwam, 19,  customs, 181 

Industry,  house  of,  376 

Installations,  date  of,  385 

Insurance  capital,  375 

Inventories  of  ancient  estates,  143 

Islands  granted  to  B.   48,    in   B.    har- 
bour, 114 

Jail,  leverett  st.  376,   old.  burnt,  275 

Jamestown  settled,    14 

James  k.  dies,  21,   II.  172 

Johnson,  isaac,  22,    dies,  36,  192 
hall,  37,  331 


Jones,  mrs.  witch,    141 
Josselyn's  visits,  82,  158 
Judges'  dress,    250 
Julien's  restoiator,  244 
Jynks,jos    140 
Keayne,  capt.  85,  95,  136 
Kennebeck  settled,  14 
Knowles'  mob,  238 
Lafayette,  379 
Lands  allotted,   56,58 
Laws  digested.   66 
League  and  cov.  solemn,  296 
Lecture,  thursday,   54,  312 
Lemercier,  andrew,  202 
Love, susanna,  350 
Leverett,  gov    funeral,  170 
Lexington  battle,  303 
Library,  boston,  356,    Columbian,  ib. 
apprentices',  359,    town,  136 


Liberty  asserted,  73,  100,  168,  171 

tree,  258.  266,  in  england,  259 

sons  of,  264 

sloop  seized,  270 


INDEX. 


397 


Light  house,  212 

Lillie,  importer,  278 

Lincoln,  earl  of,    36 

Long  wharf,    208 

Lost  town,  B.  so  called,  82 

Lovell,  master,  eulogy,   235 

mr.  james,  oration,  286 

Mackay,  gen.  276 

Malls,  159,  323,  328,  372 

Manufactory  hall,    285* 

Market,  first,    54,  225  [332 

boylston,  parkman,    and  city 

faiieuil  hall,  378,    street,  327 

Marriages,  192 

Massachusetts  bay,  smith  discovers,  15 

name,    18 

Massacre,  5th  march,  279 
Massasoit,  sachem,  18 
Mather,  increase,  175,  195 

,  cotton,  175 

Mayor  chosen,  368 

Medals,  f.  school,  354 

Memorial  against  paxton,    248 

Military  muster,  88 

Miller's,dr.  death,  253 

Millpond,  111,  125,  325 

Mill  dam,  host,  and  roxb.  320 

Ministers  in  boston,   385 

Molineux,  wm.  291 

Monroe,  president's  visit,    379 

Morton  of  merry  mt.  21 

Muddv  river,   48 

Mud-wall  houses,  83,  121 

Museums,  335 

Mutiny  act,   258 

Nahant,  47 

Nantasket  settled,  20 

Natstock  app   schoolmaster,  349 

Navy  yard,  388 

Neck,  boston,  57,  110 

New  england,  name,    15 

Newfoundland  settled,    14 

fire  at,  346 

Newspapers,  204,  218,219,  220 
Non-consumption  agreement,  270 
Non-importation,  272,  296 
North  end  settled,  129 
Northwest  passage,  88 
Norton,  rev.  John,    101,  145 
Officers,  town,  (1651)  137,    (1821)  365 
Oliver,  stamp  officer,  258,  265 

dock,  108     '  I 

Orations,  5th  march,    286 
Otis,  james,    249,    vindication,   253, 
rights,256,  assaulted,277,  death,  287 
Ox  roasted,  284 
Party  anti-charter,  197,  247 
Paskalos,  essays  of,  268 
Patent  mass,  and  patentees,  22 
Paxton,  thas.   249 
Peace.   (1783)    313 
Pequod  war,    84 
Peter,  hugh,67,  71,  97 
Philip,  king,  war,  162 
Phillips,  John,  first  mayor,   369.  371 
Philo  patriae,   271 


Phips,  sir  w.  197 

Pig,  capt.  keayne's,    95 

Plymouth  landing  at,    16 

Ponds,  111,  113,323,  387 

Pope  day,    263 

Population,  218,254,  378 

Port  bill,    295,    relief,   297.   squadron 

Post  office,  204,  210  [routed,  31 1 

Powder  blown  up,  81,  seized  by  gage, 
297,  by  americans  at  portsm.  299 

Premiums  mech.  359,    agr.  387 

Preston,  capt.  account  of  massacre, 
280,   trial,  284 

Prison,  state,    388 

Province  house,  245 

Quackery  fined,    40 

Quarters  refused  to  troops,  275       [50 

Quitclaim,  indian,  49,389,  blackstone's 

Quincy  family,  94,  josiab  jr.  294,  jo- 
siah,  mayor,  371 

Raleigh,  sir  w.    14 

Randolph,  edward,  168,  349 

Rebellion  declared,  301 

Records,  town  oldest,  55 

Refuge,  penitent  females,  361 

Representatives  first  chosen,  42,  in- 
structed, 148,  254,  289 

Residents  in  B-  (1645)  116 

Revolt  in  B.  (1689)  186 

Revolution  commencing,    247 

Richardson,   capt.     126 

,  eben.  informer,   278,  282 

Robinson, john, rev.    13 

Ropewalks,   322,  372 

Rough  cast  buildings,    167 

Rows,  west,  noith,  south,  &C.325,  375 

Roxbury,    45,  386 

Salem  settled,   23,    resistance   to    col. 

Samoset,  17  [leslie,  300 

Savings  bank,  360 

Savin  hill,  386 

Schools,  174,  348,  latin,  349,  free  writ- 
ing, ib.  cheney's,  inspectors,  350, 
committee,  expenses,  351,  354,  pri- 
mary, 352,  eng.  high,  mutual  in- 
struction, new  houses,  353,  exami- 
nations, number  of  scholars,  354, 
carter's..  328 

Sea,  border,  106,    wall,  159 
Selectmen,  first,  56,    instructed,    138, 
Shawmut,  etymology,  33     [dinner,  139 
Ship  first  built,    40 
Shop,  first,  54 

Sickness,  first  severe,  36 
Signs  of  times,  (1668)   157 
Signatures,   winthrop  and  dudley,  44, 
cotton, 136,  wilson,156,  randolph,173 
Sloop,  mass,  case  of,  252,  liberty  seiz- 
Small  pox,  218,  254,  310  [ed,  271 

Smith,  capt.  jchn,  visits  B.    15 
Snider,  boy,   killed,  278,    inscriptions 

on  his  coffin,    279 
Societies,  literary  and  charitable,  355— 
Spy,  newspaper,   287  [362 

Squantum,    17,  386 
Stagg,  captain,  99 


398 


INDEX, 


Stamp  act,  255—267 

State  house  old,  241,  250,    new,  323 

Streets,  names  of,  v.    original  course, 

119 
Suffolk  resolves,    298 
Synod,  76,  (of  1648,)  100 
Tar  and  feathers,  284,  301 
Tax,  colony,  34,    county,    365,   town, 

351,    school,  354 
Tea  proscribed,275,283,  destroyed;290 
Thacher,  oxenbridge  jr.   249, 254,  258 
Thanksgiving  feast,  41 
Theatres,  333 
Tide  great,  220 
Tontine,  321 
Town  Dock,    106 
Townsend,  shippie,  257,  339 
Town  house  erected,  143, 159, burnt,211 
Trade  (1650)  121,  157 
Treason  !  treason  !   146,  253 
Triangular  warehouse,  107 
Trimounfain,  33,46,  112 
Troops  from  england,  274 
Underbill,  capt.  56,  79 
Undertakers  mass,  company,  24 
Vane,  sir  henry.  66 — 75 


Veils  condemned,  55 

Vernon,  adm.  tavern,  110 

Virginia  colony,  14,  resolves,  258,  289 

Ward,  rev.  nathl.   simple    cobler,    156 

Warren,  jos.  dr.  273,  gen.  308 

Washington,  310,  379 

Watertown,  32,  387 

Webster,  danl.  orator,  381 

Welden,  capt.  robt.    38 

Weston's  plantation,  20 

Weymouth,  44 

Whaley  and  Goffe,  158 

Wharves,  vii.  124,  out,  159,  long,  208, 

india  und  central,  327 
Wheelwright,  john,  rev.   69 
White, rev.  John,   22 
Whitfield's  visit,   228 
William  k.  proclaimed,    185 
Wills  of  keayne  and  others,   136 
Wilson,  rev.  john,  30,  156 
W  inthrop,  john,  gov.  24 — 104 
Witchcraft,  140,  193 
Wolaston,  capt.  at  mt.  20 
Wonderworking  providence,   130 
Wood's  n.  e.  prospect,  44 
Workhouse,  324 


ERRATA. 


Page  20,  line  44,  for  now  read  since.  P.  42,  I.  34,  tor  131  were  brethren,  t.  94  were  men 
and  57  women.  P.  51,  I.  26.  for  March,  9,  1638,  r.  Feb.  27,  1643.  P.  56, I.  6,  dele  number, 
and  after  deceased  insert  and  Robert  Harding,  now  in  Virginia.  I.  10,  for  1645  r.  1642. 
P.  84,  1.4*  for  Burton's  read  Barton's-  P.  93,  I.  14,  for  11th.  r.  21th.  P.  119,  I.  4,  for  Make- 
peace, r.  Wm.  Wilson.  P.  120,  I  15.  for  north  r.  south.  P.  173,Z.  7,  after  Randolph  insert  is. 
P.  185,*  for  reduced  r.  altered.  P.  214. 1.  1,  and  P.  217*  for  sixth  r.  seventh.  P.  221, 1.  47, 
for  David  r.  Robert.  P.  226, /.  48,  for  1736  r.  1737.  P.  264,*  for  an  fyc.  r.  the  Stamp  Act 
Congress.  P.  282, 1.  6,  after  regiments,  insert  the  29th,  but  to  retain.  P.  286, 1.  4,  for  Master 
r.  Mr.  P.  313,  U  11,  for  Plymouth  r.  Milton.  P.  360,  I.  5,  for  two  r.four.  P.  379,  note,/.  2, 
for  1143  r.  2613. 


XZffDZSX 


PLATES  AND  CUTS. 


1.  South  East  View   of  Boston,  faces         -        -         Title  page, 

This  view  is  taken  from  a  point  at  South  Boston  and  includes  the  front  of 
the  city  between  S.  B.  Bridge,  and  the  end  of  Long  wharf. 

2.  Plan  of  Boston  in  1824,  faces         ...         -      page  v. 

The  dotted  lines  in  this  plate  show  the  boundaries  of  the  wards,  and  the 
numbers  refer  to  the  names  of  the  streets  on  the  catalogue  which  is  insert- 
ed between  this  plate  and 

3.  Plan  of  Boston,  in  1722,        -         -         -         -         -         p.  viii. 

This  plan  is  reduced  from  one  of  Price's,  and  corrected  by  a  plan  found  in 
an  old  book  of  charts. 

4.  Johnson  Hall,  Court  Square,  faces  p.  37- 

This  plate  exhibits  also  a  view  of  part  of  the  Chapel  burial  ground  and 
the  Columbian  Museum. 

6.  Trimountain,        -        -        -      .'-        -        -        -         p.  46. 

This  is  drawn  to  represent  Trimountain  as  it  originally  appeared  from 
Charlestown,  and  is  copied  from  old  prints. 

7.  Nahant  Hotel,  faces  -  -         -         -  p.  47- 

This  is  a  view  of  the  Pavilion  erected  within  a  few  years  by  citizens  of 
Boston. 

7.  Alms  House,  Leverett-street,  faces  -        -         -         p.  52 

8.  South  View  of  the  several  Halls  of  Harvard  College,  faces,  p.  81 

9.  Triangular  Warehouse,        -----         p.  107 

10.  Ancient  house,      -------p.  166 

This  building  exhibits  the  fashion  of  1680. 

11.  Old  Franklin  House  in  Milk-street,         -         -         -       p.  206 

12.  Julien's  Restorator,         ------       p.  244 

13.  North  East  View  of  Faneuil  Hall,  faces        -         -  p.  247 

The  white  line  on  the  front  of  the  Hall  marks  the  size  of  the  original  building : 
on  the  right  is  the  old  vegetable  market,  &.c. 

14.  Boston  Liberty  Tree,  faces     -        -        -        -  p.  266 

15.  View  of  State-street,  and  old  State  House,  faces      -        p.  280 

This  view  was  taken  from  a  point  about  opposite  Merchants'  row,  and  com- 
mences on  the  left  at  the  building  next  above  those  burnt  April  7th,  1825. 


400  INDEX    TO    PLATES. 

16.  Lexington  Monument,  -         -        -        -        -        p-  303 

17.  Monument  to  AVarren, p.  309 

18.  Beacon  hill  Monument  and  Beacon,         -         -         -         p.  315 

19.  View  of  Charlestown,  from  the  dome  of  the  State- 

house,  faces  -         -         -         -         -         -  p.  316 

In  this  view  is  embraced  the  Navy  yard,  State  prison,  Charlestown  Bridge, 
Buniier  and  Breed's  Hill,  and  part  of  Boston  in  the  fore-ground. 

20.  New  State-house,  faces p.  323 

This  view  includes  a  portion  of  the  Common,  the  mansion  house   of  Gover- 
nour  Hancock,  the  Great  Tree,  &.c. 

21.  Boston  Exchange  Coffee-house,  faces  p.  330 

This   plate    embraces  also  the  old  Quaker  meeting  bouse,  and  the  steeple  of 
the  Old  South  in  the  distance. 

22.  Boston  Theatre,  Federal-street,  faces      -         -         -         p.  334 

This   plate  brings  into  view  the  Roman  Catholick  church,  and  part  of  Frank- 
lin street,  and  Franklin  Place. 

22.  Insane  Hospital,  as  seen  from  Boston,  faces             -  p.  36l 

24.  Massachusetts  General  Hospital,  faces         -         -  p.  362 

25.  United  States  Branch  Bank,  faces            ...  p.  375 

26.  Ground  Plan  of  that  Bank           -         -         -  p.  375 
22.  House  of  Industry  and  House  of  Correction,  faces  p.  376 

This  view  represents  part  of  Boston  in  the  back  ground. 

28.     East  View  of  Faneuil-Hall  Market,  faces       -         -         p.  378 

This  plate  represents  the  new  Market  and  new  stores  as  finished,  seen  from 
the  harbour. 

29-     Map  of  Boston  and  Environs,  faces  -         -         p.  388 


BOSTON: 
Printed  by  Munroe  k.  Francis. 


DATE  DUE 


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Bapst  Library 

Boston  College 

Chestnut  Hill,  Mass.    02167 


